PT400 Series Cold Weather Starting Reports - 2019 edition

MossRoad · Jan 28, 2019

Started my 2001 PT425 with the Kohler at 6F the other day. I pulled the air cleaner and gave it a shot of carb cleaner, and put a battery booster on before attempting. Had to crank if for about 15 seconds, but it started.

I went no throttle, full choke (after the shot of carb cleaner), turned the key and slowly decreased the choke until it coughed. Then slowly increased to less than 1/4 throttle and it fired. Continued to crank until it started sputtering and let off the key. Came to life.

Will try again tonight, as we had a lot of snow during the day, but it's 31F right now, so shouldn't be a problem.

Hopefully I won't have a need to try it the next few days as it's supposed to get to -22F Wednesday A.M. Brrrrr..... I might go fishing! :laughing:

cqaigy2 · Jan 29, 2019

47F today. "Cold" weather report.

422.

Disconnected the battery tender. 3/4 choke, low throttle, turned over a few times, engine fired, then died. Tried it again, this time with the fuel on, better results too. Did a little digging, warmed up pretty good. Parked it, shut fuel off, reconnected batter tender.

MossRoad · Jan 29, 2019

Started mine yesterday at 32 degrees with no assistance.

It's 3F right now. Only 2" of new snow, light and fluffy. I don't need to plow. So I'm not gonna try it. Supposed to be -17 tonight and -24 Wednesday morning. Yikes! :laughing:

Toomanymaples · Jan 29, 2019

cqaigy2 said:
47F today. "Cold" weather report.

422.

Disconnected the battery tender. 3/4 choke, low throttle, turned over a few times, engine fired, then died. Tried it again, this time with the fuel on, better results too. Did a little digging, warmed up pretty good. Parked it, shut fuel off, reconnected batter tender.

Hey cqaigy,

I took a tractor maintenance class this past weekend with a master tractor mechanic. Learned a lot, it was a great experience. We have our riding mower set up with a battery tender which I have been leaving plugged in. Mostly because I use it so much and it has an electrical leak, which I haven't gotten around to tracking down. I asked him about how I've been using the battery tender and he said it could load up the plates on the battery if I left it plugged in. I don't know what exactly that means, but the way he said it, it sounded bad. Also not sure if this at all applies to your use and conditions, but thought I would just pass that info on since I haven't been using my tender incorrectly. Of course, I forgot to ask him the correct way to use the tender, my best guess would be to plug it in a few hours before use.

MossRoad · Jan 29, 2019

Battery tenders are meant to be left plugged in all the time.

Toomanymaples · Jan 29, 2019

That is also what I thought Moss. The instructor said that batteries should hold a charge if they are working correctly. If they aren't you have a leak (which I do) and that leaving them tended will load up the plates. I don't know enough about batteries or electrical systems to confirm that. Would love a second opinion on this as leaving the tender plugged in is a lot easier for me. :laughing:

MossRoad · Jan 29, 2019

I think there's still a lot of people out there that don't know the difference between a battery tender and a trickle charger.

A trickle charger just keeps on putting a charge on the battery, whether the battery is charged or not. A battery tender brings the battery up to charge, senses when it's fully charged, and stops charging. Should the battery voltage drop to a specified level, the battery tender will charge it up again.

Here's some good reading (or propaganda, hahaha)

Frequently Asked Questions - Products | Deltran Battery Tender

Toomanymaples · Jan 29, 2019

Wish I had asked him if he meant trickle charger during the class :duh:

BobRip · Jan 29, 2019

I agree with Moss. I keep all my small gas engines on battery tenders. Four of them. I usually replace batteries around five years. They are still working, I am just paranoid. I have never had an early failure. Before I did this I sometimes got only two years.

agjones · Jan 29, 2019

As explained to me, by my neighbor who designs electrical systems for forklifts, some of the cheapo tenders have leaky boards and after a while become trickle chargers. Also, a tender on a system that has current leaking is a trickle charger.

I quit trying to track those little voltage vampires down a long time ago... Battery disconnect switch = stake in the heart. (or whatever it is that kills vampires) 20 minutes to install vs 'hey you find the battery drain yet'

I use the noco genius chargers intended for boats. Pricey but well supported, totally waterproof and do all the battery voodoo on their own.

My engine started fine at 54. Just wanted to write that down.

Starting fluid to overcome cold, so I'm told, can crack blocks.

When I worked in Yellowstone several winters as a guide we gave the stubborn to start engines some time w a hairdryer aimed at the carb, then air intake. Never saw a can of starter there.