Battery Condition

[Industrial Toys]

I have a GIZMO that makes a fuel fed fire inside the air intake of an air cooled Deutze 911 Engine. Have not tried it yet.

 

[metalbender]

Would that be a preheat just before start?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yes. But maybe a little longer than glow plugs might be used.

 

[metalbender]

My dad told me of the starting procedure for a Lanz Bulldog long before the internet. Major preheat.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I Know. A friend has one.

 

[metalbender]

Sweet, one step up for two steps forward, single that big must jump on every revolution.

 

[metalbender]

Also no worries of dead batteries.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Your Head goes backward and forward as if moving to some disco beat.

 

[LouNY]

Being in Canuckland, JC Whitney was a wonder book, much like the Sears catalogue. In it they had listed a propane fired circulating block heater. Always thought that would be the answer for our climate.

Would that have been this one;
Propane Engine Block Heater - Universal Engine Heater Company

 

[Reb954]

Years ago when I was running cranes and driving trucks we had block heaters, propane heaters and circulating hoses on all the trucks and cranes. Usually we didn't have access to power so the propane heaters were run all night long then we would show up an hour early so we could hook up the circulating hoses to the pickup engine to warm up the equipment engine before trying to start it. It usually only took about 15 minutes with the circulating hoses to have the engine warmed up to a startable temperature.

The problem with the propane heaters is at times the wind would blow out the fire so we couldn't rely on them. Also, while we were warming up the engine with circulating hoses we would also hook up battery cables to warm up at least one set of batteries.

I can't remember ever not being able to get the equipment started. There was one time though when it took all day to get them started. Mid day the superintendent came out to check on our progress. I apologized for it taking us so long. He said, no worries, his thermometer showed it was -60F but it may be colder due to that is as low as his thermometer goes.

 

[Chaos USMC]

Update: I have replaced my battery and thus far, all is back to normal. Nice to have the beast firing right off again.

Thanks to everyone who provided assistance.

 

[Threepoint]

Great news. Thanks for the update! :thumbsup:

 

[SirMaxwell]

What happened to the old fashioned way of using a battery hydrometer to check condition? I had a NAPA battery with one bad cell a couple of years ago and charged it over night with a slow charger then checked them all with a hydrometer and found one low cell, took it in and they checked it with a new fangled electronic tester and it said it was fine. I ended up having to buy a new hydrometer from them to prove my case and the owner, another old guy, said "He's right, give him a new battery."

I realize that with a lot of the new batteries being sealed this isn't possible but I'm careful when buying them and have pretty good luck with the old way.

btw - the only 'real' way to determine battery state in a flooded cell, is the 'old way'.