HELP! Major storm coming and block heater not working!

[massey184ferguson]

Ok... checked it for continuity and its fried. The tractor is a Massey Ferguson 184-4 with a perkins a.4236 diesel. From what I have seen, block heaters on this model usually go in the frost plug with butterfly style clips but on mine it is threaded-closer to the fuel tank above the starter. Seems to be a 1" NPT thread. Does anyone know if this is a common part that I could get at a tractor dealer without having to order one? Kind of in a rush haha-- great time to quit working

 

[Looking4new]

IF and only IF you have no glow plugs, then just give it a snort of ether while you are cranking it. She'll start.

 

[flyerdan]

If you have room where it won't get hung up on something, you could slap in a lower radiator hose heater, either as a permanent solution or as a stopgap measure until you can source the original type. Most any parts store should carry the hose ones.

 

[DANOCHEESE]

You may not hear it gurgle after only two hours in colder temps. Some of the smaller tractors have low wattage block heaters. Plug the block heater into a trouble light and see if you the light dims. Poor mans current draw meter.

 

[3930dave]

If you have enough room under the hood, or have the tarp Egon mentioned handy.....

Take something like a PAR30 (incandescent) 100W bulb, wire up a light socket pigtail to an old extension cord, or take the shield off a trouble light and install the PAR30. Place this floodlight as close to the intake snorkel/head assembly as you can.

There used to be heat bulbs around (Ag store may still have 'em) that throw even more heat - sometimes enough that you have to be a little careful where they are placed.

I like the PAR30 because it used to be fairly easy to find, and the bulb is pretty rugged, as glass bulbs go. Used to be able to find higher wattages than 100 too.

If you are not seeing -40 soon, it may be easier to tuck a bulb like this under the hood, than a portable heater.

Rgds, D.

 

[herringchoker]

Ok... checked it for continuity and its fried. The tractor is a Massey Ferguson 184-4 with a perkins a.4236 diesel. From what I have seen, block heaters on this model usually go in the frost plug with butterfly style clips but on mine it is threaded-closer to the fuel tank above the starter. Seems to be a 1" NPT thread. Does anyone know if this is a common part that I could get at a tractor dealer without having to order one? Kind of in a rush haha-- great time to quit working[/QUOT

You ought to be able to get a threaded block heater from any automotive jobber, they may even list your tractor or engine. I got mine almost 10 years ago from R.K.Buzzell in Moncton. It was made by Phillips+Temro. The one they had listed for my tractor was actually smaller diameter than the threaded hole in the block, so I had to use a pipe reducer to install it. It works perfectly.

 

[Arc weld]

Philips-Temro has an applications list on the web. I needed a new block heater for the Kubota in my skid steer. The heavy equipment repair shop wanted $52 and didn't have it in stock. I looked on the web, found the exact heater I needed at a big industrial supplier for $25. It was the exact same heater. You can also get glue on oil pan heaters but for the coldest weather, Perkins will eliminate the glow plugs in favor of an ether injection system. If you want a light with heat for a temporary quick fix to warm the head, get a halogen work light! They get dam hot! I have a couple small 250 watt but the big ones are 500 watts and they will burn you.

 

[MHarryE]

Kim Hotstart makes a engine block heater that fits in the 1.25" engine core plug second from the rear on the left side of the Perkins 4.236 engine. Part number is PER-751FP. I've seen them for sale on eBay and most Caterpillar dealers stock them if the dealer is in cold climates as Perkins is a Caterpillar company.

 

[Alberta Haymaker]

Tractor has no glow plugs and yes i'm an idiot for not checking the block heater. Tried it out about 1 month ago and worked fine. I could always hear it humming and today it was about -10 C and I plugged it in for two hours. It did not humm and it was hard to get turned over. It eventually went from compression. Hoping it won't let me down after tomorrows storm. I used to be able to plug it in for 15 minutes and it would fire right up. I guess I'll have to replace the element? Any tips? Is this an easy job to tackle? Thanks guys

You'd be surprised what at what one of those regtangular halogent 500 watt lights can do under the engine oil pan with the engine covered!! -10c is not too bad if the tractor is out the wind and you get the light under it (make sure its not dripping oil on it!) Other options are those magnetic oil pan heaters which sure make then spin over easier if you don't have light oil in it. Or if possible rig up a circulating heater a 1500 watt model will get that little engine toasty warm in no time

 

[stuckmotor]

I went through n incredible cold spell about 30 years ago in the north and here's how I beat it. I brought the battery in the house and charged it. Then drained the oil out and put the new bottles of oil in warm water. Come time to start I put the very warm oil in, plopped in the charged and warm battery and it was off to the races. It started immediately.

Then I went about and started it every four hours for two days. Let it warm up for maybe 20 minutes. I don't ever want to be that cold again.

That's probably the same cold spell we felt down here in S.C. The ice got my copper pipes so big I couldn't get a sleeve over it to put in a patch. I had to replace it with cpvc.