Cold Weather tricks

[Egon]

Trev:

Heat tape is a common commodity in the cold north. Wrap it around pipes and then apply some insulation and away you go.

Get the one that has internal thermostatic control and can be cut to length.

Check the net. Probably get lots of info.

Egon

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color="red"> did find a magnetic heater on the Internet - I think it was 200 watts - I was going to order that - where do you guys think is the best place to put it on a 425? - to get the hydraulic oil tank -

should i put two on - one for the hydraulic fluid , one for the engine pan??

Do you think the heater will work??
</font>

Ed: As you can see, Hans had to go to some lengths to get his 425 going. Of course, he had to spend Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights plowing and spreading salt.
To get the 425 going initially, if you can't get it inside a heated area, I'd recommend a heavy tarp (tent) and a 1200 watt heater (Home Depot - cheap) for a couple of hours to try to bring the whole thing up to temperature. Then, fresh spark plugs and good jumper cables to a running vehicle. If it doesn't light immediately, you'll know for sure that there is something else amiss.
I'd bet that a magnetic heater on the hydraulic oil and one on the engine oil would normally do the job if everything else is in good shape, but if you're talking temperatures near 0, 200 watts each might not be enough. Certainly a blanket or tarp to keep out the wind would also help if a heated garage isn't available.
(The Deutz is really impresive, isn't it? Only diesel I've ever had that starts in cold weather without a lot of cussing. It's hard to believe we're posting solutions for balky gas engines with the 1845 diesels starting without heat or ether.)

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, we had a truck at the airport that had that built in. It was a bottle that you screwed onto a fitting and the control was in the cab. And you're right... it was always empty.

I think I have purchased about 3 cans of the stuff in my entire life and I still have two of them, so I use it sparingly and only when needed.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> It's hard to believe we're posting solutions for balky gas engines with the 1845 diesels starting without heat or ether.</font>

I was just thinking that. Here's a quote from my web page in the "Why we bought a PT425" area.


<font color="green"> I am sure that the diesels will outlast the Kohler. With that said, I don't care for diesels. I never liked the smell and the feel of fuel oil on my hands. Oil changes are messy and you have to find a place to dispose of it properly. I don't like having to treat the fuel in the winter so it won't gel up. If you run out of fuel you have to prime the system on some of the units and I have had very bad experiences trying to start them when the mercury drops below 0. And that is when I truly need it. I don't want to go out to my garage and futz with starting up my snowplow. Glow plugs, block heaters, BAAA! Hold your comments right there diesel lovers…maybe I was never trained right on diesels and all of this ranting is probably not justified. Anyway...I like gasoline engines! I like the smell, the sound and the explosive power of gas. I am very familiar with gasoline engines and am comfortable working on them. In the winter, maybe a shot of ether and off you go. So, the engine type was a big consideration for me. </font>

Hope I don't eat those words, someday! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Bubenberg asked me to post this. He wants people to know that someone, somewhere has more cold weather problems than he does.

 

[pajoube]

Many great ideas coming out.
I could not find the information on my magnetic block heater but I recall its a 200 or 400 watt and I think it is the latter. Now if I were to plug it in cold it would not do much in 24 hours. If I plug it in on a warm tank it seems to do well. In the very cold weather (minus 20) I have been using the tank heater, light bulb, warm battery, and a bunch of prayers /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
When I get my new garage finished (tractor shed) it will have some heat available to direct on the tractor.
When it is forecasted to hit really cold weather again I will start the engine and warm up every 4 hours if the tractor will be needed.
PJ

 

[Sedgewood]

<font color="red"> Bubenberg asked me to post this. He wants people to know that someone, somewhere has more cold weather problems than he does. </font>

I have some customers who need to see that pic. Then there's the folks who tore down their house in Phoenix after it had spent a summer with the water running. Gave "rain forest" a new meaning, it did.

Love that diesel fuel smell on the hands, everytime PT lights off /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Sedgewood

 

[RegL]

Doesn't seem to be many 1430's around here so I thought I should chime in with a report. Started that little two banger up last week at -12. Gave it a couple 15 sec cranks before she popped and ran on one cyclinder for about a half minute, than smoothed right out. I was quite impressed. Now on the other hand, the wife's volvo was not that impressive. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[dpotter]

Just use good 100% synthetic lubes and everything will work at below Zero if your battery is good.

Danny /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, I saw that in another thread. Yeowch!!