Block heaters

[sunshine]

I bought a used 2007 Jinma 284. It has a 3 cylinder diesel. I would like to put a block heater in it. The dealer in Northeastern Washington said that they install a soft plug heater on their units but I'm not sure that's the best way to go. Any suggestions??

 

[Diamondpilot]

Put in a lower radiator hose heater. I put in a Kats model 14600 in mine and it starts right up at -20 after just being plugged in for a hour. Cost about $25.

Remember though it just heats the engine. Once running you need to let the tractor idle for 15 minutes or so to warm up the hydros and other fluids. Don't forget the diesel fuel anti gel adative also in the winter.

Chris

 

[biggerten]

I'm in northern Wisconsin, I agree 100% with what Chris says.

Well, maybe not how he spells additive.

 

[20 20]

I did the same thing Diamondpilot did on my jinma 254, no regrets. I started with the magnetic oil pan heaters but was not happy. The lower radiator hose heater works great, picked it up at TSC. I live up in northern NY, and it gets well below -10/-20 for long periods of time.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I'm in northern Wisconsin, I agree 100% with what Chris says.

Well, maybe not how he spells additive.

Good katch. I went to publick skool!

I will leave the bad spelling in so you guys will have something to laugh at and take your minds off the economy.


Chris

 

[sunshine]

Thanks for the replies, and so soon!
I will order a lower radiator hose heater and go for it. I do question the hose that is on the tractor now. It looks OK but it has what looks like a armor thread wrap. Maybe I'll replace with a new hose. The tractor had 85 hours on it when I bought it and now it has 106 hours on it.
Thanks again,
Sunshine.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The hose is 1.5" inside diameter. If you question it I would replace it. Take it into a local auto parts store and find one they have to cut out a piece of. While you are at it do the top one also. I will say though my tractor has 600 hours and still the same hoses and alternator belt.

By the way I got my heater at TSC. Not sure if you have one there but you can also get them online.


Chris

 

[Bob Rooks]

Good katch. I went to publick skool!
Chris

My granddaughters spell like that on porpoise, they think it's kewl!
Ya, they know how to push my buttons

 

[patrick_g]

I will say though my tractor has 600 hours and still the same hoses and alternator belt.

Chris

Over 1000 hours on all hoses. Radiator and heater hoses are fine. I put a branch through a hydraulic hose to FEL.

A/C compressor pulley slipped even with belt dressing so replaced that belt with a "SPECIAL" belt from Kubota dealer.

So far I haven't used any engine heater on my tractor (temps down to zero F) but in our colder weather I recycle the key switch when it is cold to get a second dose of heating of the glow plugs and maybe one more extra time if temps are in the single digits. My glow plug controller is an automatic timer that does not consider the ambient temperature.

If we had sustained temps of 0 degrees F or colder I'd have installed a block heater in a radiator hose like I used in North Dakota. I don't like dipstick heaters, magnetically attached heaters, or any "home brew" light bulb under the access panel or whatever. A good block heater in a heater hose or radiator hose is the next best solution to parking the tractor in a conditioned space.

Pat