Block Heater Question

[Charlton John]

Hi, I have searched the many other posts on this topic and couldnt find the answer to my one question. My tractor came w/ a block heater that I have not used yet. I have also never used a block heater on the 2 tractors I have owned. Is there a way to tell its working after you plug it in, sound etc...? I just want to make sure when I do use (this weekend) I have a product that works. Thanks Guys!

 

[RWolf]

Sure, when you go to start your tractor it starts right up running smooth. Really though it your tractor hasn't been run plug it in and after about 15 to 30 min. put your hand in the area of the block heater, it should be warm. Other than that I haven't seen any type of indicators on any of the block heaters I've seen.

Good luck.

 

[Tim D]

Many times after first plugging in heater, you will hear the cold water in block hissing from the heat element warming the water very quickly. Also, the block around heater will be warm in a minute or so. If block does not get warm to touch, chances are your heater is not working.

 

[JB4310]

I'm assuming you have a factory type block heater, where you can follow the ac power cord to a point somewhere on the side of the engine.
In which case you should be able to feel some warmth around that area as well as other areas of the block after an hour or two of it being plugged in, In the immediate area of the heater you should feel it sooner.

Most people use some type of a timer so the heater goes on a few hours before anticipated use of the tractor, so you don't have to have it on all night.

Good Luck,
JB.

EDIT: I'm a slow typer and did'nt see you had a couple of good answers while I was responding.

 

[Charlton John]

I didnt use the tractor at all from mid Nov. till this past week. Then I needed to get her out to start moving all this snow around. I made sure battery was fully charged, clutch left disengaged and fuel was properly treated. The tractor is stored in a barn (new) so although not heated pretty air tight. The temps here have been very cold (only 1 day this month above freezing) The first day I cranked her up it was about 27 degrees and it fired right up no problem, (about 10 seconds on the glow plug) The second day I fired her up this week it was only about 10 degrees and although it started right up it seemed to start rough and sputtered a little. So I want to play some more tomorrow were we are only expecting highs of around 10 so I figured if I have the heater I might as well take advantage of it and use for the first time, thanks for the replys!

 

[brandoro]

If it's quiet when you plug it in you should hear a few ticks and some hissing from the element warming up. If you leave it for an hour the engine will be fairly warm to the touch. After three or four hours the engine will feel like it has just been running. The Kubota block heaters are plenty big for the small size block and coolant capacity so warm up quickly. I seldom plug mine in for more than an hour on the coldest days.

 

[JoeL4330]

startings only half the battle, as many posts here show ...you want to make sure your fuel won't gell and, if you haven't used it since early fall, chances are you don't have a winter blend in the tank ...so, I would treat the fuel with an anti gell additive ...and I would keep a spare filter or two on hand

 

[Charlton John]

startings only half the battle, as many posts here show ...you want to make sure your fuel won't gell and, if you haven't used it since early fall, chances are you don't have a winter blend in the tank ...so, I would treat the fuel with an anti gell additive ...and I would keep a spare filter or two on hand

Fuel has been properly treated # 2 deisel w/ treatment added. So I should hopefully be all set here. Thanks for the heads up

 

[ramoffroader]

There are two ways to test a block heater. One is a device by JJeb company who manufacture's block heaters. You plug it into the power cord then to the block heater. If the block heater is good a light will come illuminate on the test device. The other way is use a ohm's meter and check for continuity across the the blades of the block heater plug(not the ground stud). If you have a open circuit the block heater is not good.

 

[JB4310]

Could also use a Kill-A-Watt electricity usage monitor, if you had one.

JB.

 

[RickB]

There are two ways to test a block heater. One is a device by JJeb company who manufacture's block heaters. You plug it into the power cord then to the block heater. If the block heater is good a light will come illuminate on the test device. The other way is use a ohm's meter and check for continuity across the the blades of the block heater plug(not the ground stud). If you have a open circuit the block heater is not good.

Hearing it sizzle or feeling the heat it makes isn't good enough?

 

[ninefinger]

When you take it to the most basic fact an electrical heater is nothing more than a dead short. When it is quite I can hear the plug pick up the load when I plug in my truck. If you are able to look down at the plug you may be able to see a small arc as the plug makes contact. Just remember arcs travel up not down or sideways. For those that may want to nit pick that last statement I am not saying they will not make a "ball".

 

[ramoffroader]

Hearing it sizzle or feeling the heat it makes isn't good enough?

Sorry. Did i give you to much information??? I am a professional heavy equipment mechanic. There are peices of equipment I work on where it takes alot of work to get to the block heater. Yes on most tractors you can put your hand on them and see if they get hot. The original poster asked how to test a block heater and I gave them the information. MY BAD next time I will keep my ignorant advice to myself.

 

[zzvyb6]

Have a laugh, R.O.R.

Remember that there are folks on here who apply vegetable oil on their snowblowers before each use, who take their lawnmowers into the dining room for vacuuming, who have to ask the old lady if its OK to change the oil, spend way too much time with Hobby Lobby paintbrushes touching up their tractors with colors like taupe, emerald, tomato, chili spice and periwinkle.

The New Depression will solve some of this, as periwinkle will soon be replaced by sage. (And, my emerald with sunflower will last forever).

 

[Charlton John]

Sorry. Did i give you to much information??? I am a professional heavy equipment mechanic. There are peices of equipment I work on where it takes alot of work to get to the block heater. Yes on most tractors you can put your hand on them and see if they get hot. The original poster asked how to test a block heater and I gave them the information. MY BAD next time I will keep my ignorant advice to myself.

No I dont think you gave me to much info, I aprreciate your feedback and all others feedback as well. Unfortunatly no seat time anyway this weekend so I didnt get to test the block heater out. We are getting another foot of snow tonight so I should get to play some later this week I hope, thanks again for all the replys guys!

 

[JB4310]

Another handy tip is; use one of those extension cords that have a power indicator light at the end. For my diesel work truck that gets plugged in on a timer on those frigid nights, in the morning I can see from the kitchen window that it is indeed on, even though the truck is parked over 150' away, eliminating any surprises when I get out there. This just saved me today as I noticed the light on when it shouldn't of been last night and found the timer was not set to the right time, possibly kids messing with it or power outage.

Comes in handy even if the tractor is in a shed, as you can see quickly and easily that your block heater is or isn't getting powered, when your out and about working.

JB.

 

[Charlton John]

Great idea, thanks I have one of these already for the Christmas lights. My barn has windows so I could also easlily see if it were on. I plan on running power out there in the spring.

 

[RickB]

Sorry. Did i give you to much information??? I am a professional heavy equipment mechanic. There are peices of equipment I work on where it takes alot of work to get to the block heater. Yes on most tractors you can put your hand on them and see if they get hot. The original poster asked how to test a block heater and I gave them the information. MY BAD next time I will keep my ignorant advice to myself.

Whoopie DOO. I am also a professional mechanic. And I don't need a dedicated tool to check block heaters when a sense of hearing and touch will do. If that isn't adequate, an ohm meter and non-contact infrared thermometer will test block heaters just fine, thank you very much. And both can be used for many, many other tasks.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Must be the sub zero temps this winter that's making the mechanics on here a little cranky.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[RickB]

Must be the sub zero temps this winter that's making the mechanics on here a little cranky.

Sincerely, Dirt

That's a distinct possibility.
My bad.