Block heater on timer?

[charlesw]

So, ok, fine. You can do the battery charger on a timer... But what about the block heater? Shouldn't 2 hours of heat be enough to start? Sure, it might get to 0F (rarely -20F) but the tractor will be in a garage.

Alternately, I could set a timer on the block heater and a room heater (the tractor will be in a tractor-sized section of the garage). At least that way I'd (hopefully) have a toasty place to seat my bum before going out to plow in the AM...

Or maybe another heater in series... So, I've got the block heater now, I could get a heater for the radiator, too...

Not to do any overkill, or anything, but, well, this tractor is going to be a big investment for me and I would like it to last as long as possible!

thx,
c

 

[GaryE]

Charlesw,


Even before I took delivery on my tractor I bought a block heater for it. The tractor was delivered on a day when it was -15F. It started right up! Needless to say I have yet to install it!


But I do have a Ford F-250 7.3 diesel that will not start much below 30F. I have it on a timer and it works fine. I think it is a pool pump timer. You can pick them up almost anywhere. I set it about 90 minutes before I need it. Never had a problem.


Hope this is of some help,


Gary

 

[thcri]

Charlesw,


Even before I took delivery on my tractor I bought a block heater for it. The tractor was delivered on a day when it was -15F. It started right up! Needless to say I have yet to install it!

Gary,

My New Holland TC29D came with a block heater. I thought it was a nice touch. But I have not pulled the cord apart yet to plug it in. For the most part my tractor sits inside but I have had many times where I did leave it outside at -15 and had no problems starting it. Moving it is some of a bit trouble. So I agree that not having to plug it in is great but I think if you can warm that block up some it is much easier on the tractor. Two hours is plenty and will help in quicker starts.

JMO


Murph

 

[GaryE]

Moving it is some of a bit trouble. So I agree that not having to plug it in is great but I think if you can warm that block up some it is much easier on the tractor. Two hours is plenty and will help in quicker starts.

JMO


Murph

Murph,


I have had this discussion before and I am still not sure I have ever seen a good answer. I can see heating the water jacket in the engine block can help with cold starting (and might even heat SOME of the oil), but I don't think there is enough thermal coupling to help heat the hydraulics and or transmission.


I know this will vary greatly from model to model, but I am just not convinced a block heater will actually transfer enough heat / energy to other than the engine to make much of a difference at temperatures much below freezing.


JMO


Gary

 

[charlesw]

For the most part my tractor sits inside but I have had many times where I did leave it outside at -15 and had no problems starting it

NH, you say? Oof! So, you're saying I don't need a heater at all with the new tractor? (Think carefully before you answer, and don't forget to consult your lawyer and to forward me your full contact info...)

Yeah, so, 2 hours of heater should be fine, then. Good. Got to keep costs down! The neighbor used to run heaters constantly on all 5 of his tractors. Well, golly, it doesn't take very long for that to add up to a lot of money! Overnight I know that he uses timers now. I wonder what he does for during the day... I mean, if you need one particular tractor, for whatever reason, well, you need it...

 

[thcri]

Murph, I know this will vary greatly from model to model, but I am just not convinced a block heater will actually transfer enough heat / energy to other than the engine to make much of a difference at temperatures much below freezing.

Gary, Your absolutely right. The block heater will not help the tranny or the hydraulics. The block heater will only help the motor. And I believe it will warm up the oil to get better lubrication right away also.


murph

 

[CATMAN]

My Dad runs a block heater on a heavy-duty timer for his 1066 IHC (130 HP) tractor that is used to operate the feed wagon for the cattle. He only needs one and a half to two hours maximum in cold weather back in Iowa. I mentioned that it is a heavy-duty timer. We had tried one of those plastic wall socket types and it turned brown at the plug area on the timer. Bad sign. He spent the money and got the one he uses today. Many years of service without a problem on the heavy-duty one. Don't go cheap is my suggestion.

 

[RalphVa]

I've started my old Benz outside in -22 F with a radiator hose heater plugged into a timer that turned it on a couple hours before I wanted to use it. The old Benz started immediately (after the required amount of glow plug operation) but stalled a couple miles down the road. Let it sit a couple minutes. Restarted and drove another couple miles down the road. Let sit a couple minutes and then restarted. Ran fine then, as the fuel filter had gotten warm next to the engine enough to keep the wax melted in the fuel. Should have been using Power Service back in those days.

It doesn't get cold enough to have a heater on my tractor here in Va. Let it glow about 5 seconds (by turning key all the way with gear selector in "L" or "H") before flicking the gear selector to "N" where it starts immediately. (Gotta have the speed selector up to approximately 1500 rpm; otherwise, it starts and dies. Same with old diesel Benzes.)

My wife occasionally plugs in her 23 year old Benz (this is not the "old" one mentioned above; it was even older) to have heat inside immediately when she pulls out.

If you've the low vis hydraulic fluid in your tranny on your tractor, it needs a little bit of warming up before moving out at much speed. I generally just move my tractor out at about 1500 rpm max for a few minutes before revving it up. Shouldn't be using higher vis hydraulic fluid unless you live maybe in the deep South.

Ralph

 

[Soundguy]

If you are really worried about trans fluid temp.. get a magnetic heater for the trans...

Soundguy

 

[George2615]

I use two timers. I only use them when outside temps stay below 30 deg. F. I have one timer plugged into the block heater on my truck set to come on two hours before I leave for work. The second timer is for the lower hose heater on the tractor, which is in an unheated garage, and is set to come on two hours before I get home. That way in case I need to use the tractor for snow removal it's ready to go. Both are heavy duty timers uded for appliances. Make sure the timer you get can handle the wattage you need. too light and they'll just burn up.