Cold weather starting......

[PowerTrom425]

Well, I've spent the afternoon thawing frozen pipes! It's 10 degrees, wind chill minus 500! Tried starting the pt425, and while the starter didn't stick, the battery slowly turned over and said.....wait 'til its warmer!

I've put a work light under the battery/engine with a 75 watt bulb in it. I've plugged in a battery charger into the light and attached it to the battery, and I covered the engine with a reflective poly-something blanket and lowered the engine hood over all of it. Any other suggestions?

 

[bczoom]

Hmmm.

Bring it in the Living Room?

Actually, do you have a torpedo or electric heater you could blow at it?

Can a block heater be put on your PT? I just put one of the electric stick on type on one the oil pan of my machines and it makes a big difference. I put on a household timer so it comes on a couple hours before I'm ready to use it.

Temp is about the same here. (-1 this morning). Brrr.

 

[JimR]

I was wondering if my Cub 7275 would fire up this morning to remove the snow we got last night. It was 6 degrees when I went out and fired her up. I didn't think about plugging in the block heater last night before I went to bed. My tractor fired right up and stayed running all morning today. There is one thing that I did last month that has helped the tractor start in cold weather. I replaced the small battery that was in the tractor with a group 24 700 cca battery. I thought for sure that I would have had a hard time starting it today. I was wrong and glad I was too. What size battery do you have in your PT? Can you fit a larger battery in it?

 

[ClintBlake]

I am having some success using two 300 watt magnetic heaters stuck to the bottom of the hydraulic tank to warm up the oil. I had them on for 3 hours one morning this weekend when it was 34 degrees and they seemed to help. I bought them from Advanced Autoparts for $43 each in hopes that they would keep me from having to do the BobRip mod of replacing the starter and ignition coil. Previously, my 422 wouldn't even think of starting if it was below 40 without jumping it with a 100 amp booster charger. I think I will end up having to replace the starter and ignition coil also to get something that is reliable in cold weather starting.

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am having some success using two 300 watt magnetic heaters stuck to the bottom of the hydraulic tank to warm up the oil.)</font>

I've heard the magnet ones work very well but also heard to drape the ext. cord over the seat or steering wheel so you don't leave with the heater attached. For some reason, they never come back home with the tractor.

 

[johara1]

i use a torpedo heater !!, the big starter and the coils all that may be fine,if it works /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif i do know i set the torpedo up on a box and open the hood so the hot air blows on the engine in 5 min. i roll it over it will start the first time. it's easy on every thing,starter,battery,engine.it also pulls in hot air too help start it /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[pajoube]

This is my second winter with my 425. I have a magnetic block heater on the oil reservoir, which I keep plugged in whenever I am not running the tractor. Our temperatures frequently get and stay below zero for long periods of time. When starting up in the morning I do full choke, full throttle, and turn it over. If it does not start and seems a little slow I now add the portable battery booster. This usually does the trick. So far I have not had it NOT start.
PJ

 

[bubenberg]

YOU are so right. and every year we talk about this subject.the heavy hydraulic load don't make it easy, but we have to get out and plow and salt regardless. we put one magnetic heather at the beginning and at the end of the hydraulic flow into the engine and religiously have no less than an 18 month old battery in our green beast. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

happy starting we were at 7 degrees this morning

 

[BobRip]

ClintBlake,
Leave it out tonight with the heaters on and test it tomorrow. It's supposed to get down to 10 or 12 at your location. It might be good to put a thermometer on it and see what kind of temperature rise you get.

BobRip

 

[PowerTrom425]

What does the gang think of these block heaters......

Magnetic Block Heater - MH1153
Magnetic block heater, 115-120 AC, 180 watts. Surface area is 2-3/4" x 3-3/4". Delivers 300 to 400 degree surface temperature at 2 AMP maximum draw. KATS "HANDI-HEAT" model with a 6 foot cable. Includes instructions and display box.

Product# MH1153
Detailed Info Price US $29.85




Magnetic Block Heater - MH1160
Magnetic block heater, 115-120 AC, 300 WATTS. Surface area is 3" x 5". Delivers 300 to 400 degree surface temp. at 3 AMP maximum draw. KATS"HANDI-HEAT" model with a 5 1/2 foot cable.

Product# MH1160
Detailed Info Price US $53.03



I am going to order a couple tomorrow. Anyone have any recommendations on these, or any others?