Starting your tractor in the winter.

[Poopdeck Pappy]

. . . However, condensation can be minimized by keeping the tank relatively full to minimize the surface area where condensation can form.

When I was in flight school, one of the first things they taught me was to fill up the plane's fuel tank as soon as you parked it (instead of waiting until the next morning) for exactly that reason.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I get up. Flip the switch on the outlet the block heater is plugged into. Then I go make coffee and have breakfast. When I'm done, I'll go out and clean off the snow, check the fluid levels and top off the fuel. By that time, the tractor's warmed up enough to start it. I'll leave it idle while I go back in for another cup of joe before clearing for the next couple hours.

 

[buickanddeere]

I get up. Flip the switch on the outlet the block heater is plugged into. Then I go make coffee and have breakfast. When I'm done, I'll go out and clean off the snow, check the fluid levels and top off the fuel. By that time, the tractor's warmed up enough to start it. I'll leave it idle while I go back in for another cup of joe before clearing for the next couple hours.

X2. Good to hear from
somebody that doesn't abuse their machine.

 

[sixdogs]

When I lived in a colder climate I would leave both the tractor and the plow truck plugged in overnight. By morning, the tractor was really warm and the plow truck heater blew hot air in short order. It worked for me.

 

[check]

My tractor is inside the garage, and of course I cannot wanted up there because of the fumes. I just remembered, however, about the flexible pipe that service stations use to run from the tailpipe to the exterior of the building so that exhaust fumes go directly outdoors. Have to get one!

 

[sixdogs]

My tractor is inside the garage, and of course I cannot wanted up there because of the fumes. I just remembered, however, about the flexible pipe that service stations use to run from the tailpipe to the exterior of the building so that exhaust fumes go directly outdoors. Have to get one!

Probably not a good idea. It might be acceptable in a shop that has a ventilation system but you don't. Get it wrong any you can gas the whole family before you know it and wind up on the 11:00 O'clock news, postmortem . Tasteless, odorless and colorless come to mind. Be careful.

 

[vtsnowedin]

I've started mine twice in the last few days when it was cold. The first time was with just the air preheater as I had parked it out of reach of a cord. The second time it was down to zero and I plugged in the block heater for an hour or so. You could hear the water hiss inside the block when I first plugged it in. I could clearly hear the difference when it first fired up. The oil was thick when cold and loaded the starter and you could tell when the first oil flow reached all the bearings. It is certainly worth it to plug it in when it is down below 20 degrees F.

 

[RoyJackson]

My tractor is inside the garage, and of course I cannot wanted up there because of the fumes. I just remembered, however, about the flexible pipe that service stations use to run from the tailpipe to the exterior of the building so that exhaust fumes go directly outdoors. Have to get one!

Probably not a good idea. It might be acceptable in a shop that has a ventilation system but you don't. Get it wrong any you can gas the whole family before you know it and wind up on the 11:00 O'clock news, postmortem . Tasteless, odorless and colorless come to mind. Be careful.

I agree.
I'd open the garage doors before starting and move the machine outside immediately after starting...then a fast idle until it's warmed.

 

[CrazyCanadian]

On the tractors with the pre-heaters it sometimes helps to smooth them out post start to hit the heat button again.

To warm the engine quick with a tiger torch put the torch inside a piece of ductwork with an elbow on it to direct the heat but keep the flame contained.

 

[buickanddeere]

On the tractors with the pre-heaters it sometimes helps to smooth them out post start to hit the heat button again.

To warm the engine quick with a tiger torch put the torch inside a piece of ductwork with an elbow on it to direct the heat but keep the flame contained.

Why would anybody fool around with open flame directed onto an oily machine with paint, plastic and rubber parts. Then waste 95% of the heat blowing past the machine.
Instead if some hack jackleg cob job. Why not just use a proper block heater and real synthetic oil?