Cold starting a PT422

joshlee · Jan 9, 2017

Thats interesting and makes sense.

cqaigy2 said:
Interesting info about lubrication of cylinder ends.

I've been using lithium wheel bearing grease dissolved in old gasoline. Paint it on with a chip brush. It seems to migrate well then dries and leave a grease residue. I particularly like this because it's so easy to do and very inexpensive, so i do it with regularity.

I don't recall, but im pretty sure i learned the grease gas thing from somebody here on TBN, specifically the Power-Trac forum.

joshlee · Jan 9, 2017

Awesome video!

EricTheOracle said:
Assuming that the engine turns over fast enough, and that the fuel isn't gelling, the issue with starting diesels is getting heat into them. Figure out how to get warm or hot air into the intake. A heat gun running on a generator for 15 minutes and then turn the engine over with the heat gun blowing hot air into the intake.

Other wise with 120v, block heaters, hydro heaters, and fuel heaters.

emr · Dec 19, 2017

This year I got sick of fighting the cold and I have seemed to find a solution that works so far. We now keep a generator on the trailer that we haul the loader with. We plug in a battery charger that has a jump start function to the generator and hook it up to the battery. That works great! For colder days I bought a propane torpedo heater. It's just a small one, but I aim that at the air intake and let it go for a few minutes. Again, that seems to work wonders. All and all, I bet it takes us a half hour of messing around to get it stated. That's fine with me because we usually have some time at the beginning of our job where we're getting set up on other things as well. It's just part of our routine now. I feel a lot better just knowing that we will get it started.

MuncyBob · Dec 23, 2017

I recently installed the Kat's heater pad on the hydraulic tank. This thing gets HOT!!
Wish I had done this winters ago! Was around 20 degrees the first time I started it and was an instant start after running the small battery charger for a few hours.

emr · Dec 23, 2017

We have one of Kat's magnetic heaters for the hydros too. It does get hot but I'm not sure how much good it does. It's just too small to make a significant difference.

Frank Sorbello · Dec 26, 2017

emr said:
We have one of Kat's magnetic heaters for the hydros too. It does get hot but I'm not sure how much good it does. It's just too small to make a significant difference.

Before I swapped out my Robin for a Kohler, The first two years I had the machine I had 2 KAT magnetic heaters. They were pretty much useless. When Terry told about the silicone pad I was very skeptical but also desperate. So I bought one and installed it just like Terry said to do. It was 100% better than the magnetic heaters and the propane torpedo heaters etc... I have still have the silicone heater attached to my 422, but never have had to use it since putting in the Kohler. If you are not planning on swapping out your robin for a Kohler in the near future - the silicone pad is the way to go for cold starts

emr · Dec 26, 2017

Any chance you could post of pictures of your set up?

MossRoad · Dec 26, 2017

Started my 2001 PT425 with the Kohler at 4 degrees F this morning. Fired up pretty good. :thumbsup:

SpringHollow · Dec 26, 2017

I used 3 of the magnetic heaters when storing the tractor in unheated space. They definitely helped but not a great solution. The glow plugs (intake manifold heaters) worked as well or better than the magnets down to 20° F.

Ken