Cold Weather tricks

bubenberg · Jan 27, 2004

( I proved that above idle is too much heat for the hose. Scientific test, don't ya know.

 )

all Charlie is doing , is thinking about spring, summer when it is too hot to mow all those pastures /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ernemats · Jan 28, 2004

Welcome to the pt forum. What part of western Pa., I'm out near Ligonier.

ernemats · Jan 28, 2004

Jim:
how are you making out with the pt snow blade? You should be getting a lot of chances to use it lately.
Ernie

johara1 · Jan 28, 2004

ernie,it's not for sale anymore!!!!this thing is great,i added a cutting edge from a steiner $35.00 and a set of shoes for a western snow plow.byers sell them,with shipping $34.00. some 2" angle,1" black wall pipe and the blade is super,i can't say enough good about it!the more i use it the better i like. i just made a set of chains for the front, tried them out yesterday wow the things a tank! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gifif you get time you will have to come over a see it work.i thought the bucket was the best tool but not with the mods. to the blade its right up there! the starting problems are a small price to pay for such a GREAT tractor /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

PatH · Jan 28, 2004

ernemats,
I'm out near the Pittsburgh Airport. I'm not really new to the forum - I made a few posts about a year ago after I first got my PT-422. Most of these concerned the hard starting problems with the Robin Engine. I was one of the first to put the new coils on the Robin engine to solve the issue (Thanks for the help Jack). I got caught in one of the system crashes several months back and got my ID deleted and had to re-register. Although I don't post often, I remain a regular reader. By the way, I now have over 225 hours on my 422 and have had no problems since the hard starting issue was resolved. Its a great toy--I mean tool.

FFC_Fencing · Jan 29, 2004

Have to agree about the new coil deal on the robin engine! We have two 422's the first was purchased 7 or eight years ago. It has always been a bit hard to start when cold... but it would eventually start. The newer 422 was purchased last year. It would not start when we tried to unload it off of the trailer after returning from PT. It has been nearly impossible to start in any type of cooler weather. After talking to Jack at Robin, we took it to a Robin dealer and they put on new coils. What a difference!!! It will now start easily at temps approaching zero. Wow, I am no longer sorry that we bought a second Power Trac!

bubenberg · Jan 29, 2004

Welcome aboard TBN's most fantastic Forum, Power Trac. I am looking forward to exchange notes, thoughts, ideas on enhancing power trac attachments, use etc.

From talking to you, i think you are as far as i know the most senior pt equipment user in this forum at this time. Your explanation of how you use your wheelbarrow attachment is absolutely GREAT. Charlie Iliff will build one tonight ... i know.

Am looking forward to the pictures ... thanks /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

bubenberg · Jan 29, 2004

was out for a few hours, plowing ice and powder snow combined. all my Kohler engines are giving me a hard time. one thing changed, the Exmark ztr mower is now in the barn, in my new yard, some 9 miles away from my house, and that helps. but the pt 425 has to be here, at the house, on the trailer, ready to go during snow season. with strategically placing the two magnetic heaters, and covering the machine with bedspreads and plastic covers it seems to get better starting also.

the ultimate persuader is the jumper cable hooked to my Dodge Ram 2500, on one try and the combination has not let me down in 9 degree weather.

Scott_F · Jan 29, 2004

Pat,
What were the starting (or lack thereof) symptoms before you installed new coils. Robin has told me that I don't need new coils, based on serial #, but it sure needs something. It remains a real pain to start in cold weather. With jumper cables to the truck, it will crank and crank but not fire. Took about 15-20 min to finally get it started Sunday night to put the blade on, and took 10 15 minutes to start Monday morning to plow. I try to observe starter duty cycle limits per the hyd filter change instructions, but it just shouldn't be this hard to start.

-Scott

PTRich · Jan 29, 2004

It is 14 at my house right now. I just got off my tractor. It started first try. I always use full throttle and full choke at first but adjust it as the engine comes to life. I have found that if you try to use any hydralics you need to wait a minute or the engine will die.

PatH · Jan 29, 2004

Mine may have been an extreme case but it virtually would not start below 40 degrees F. It would not fire until the hydraulic oil was warm enough to allow it to turn-over very fast. I tried the following with very little success before the new coils.
1. magnetic heaters at various mounting locations.
2. starting fluid.
3. battery charger on full time when not running.
4. "Hotter" spark plugs.
5. Heavy duty Robin starter.
6. 5W-30 Mobil 1 oil for hydraulic fluid (ouch was that expensive).
None of that was very helpful. Placing magnetic heaters directly on the pumps would normally get it started at temperatures slightly below freezing. Since replacing the coils I have had no problems starting it near 0 degrees.

While I realize that you may not have coils with the bad serial numbers, if the tractor sounds like it is turning over fairly well and the plugs are wet from fuel after some cranking it must be inadequate spark. That means the coils or the spark plugs. If you've already tried new spark plugs I'd think it would worthwhile to try the new coils. I think the coils are especially suspect on the Robin as they contain electronics that vary the timing for "easier" starting. If something in there is failed it could likely make for the more difficult starting.

MossRoad · Jan 30, 2004

-5 here this morning. Went out to the shed at 6:00am, set the throttle to about 2/3 and the choke to full, turned the key and the engine spun a few times then the starter started slowing down /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif .... thoughts of this thread immediately popped into my head. Then about two more turns of the starter, it picked back up and the engine fired right up /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. I think the battery is getting weak. I'll throw a charger on it for a few hours tonight and permanently hook up the trickle charger to see if I can get the battery to last through the winter.

Charlie_Iliff · Jan 30, 2004

and permanently hook up the trickle charger to see if I can get the battery to last through the winter.


MR - Advice you probably don't need. I recommend care in selection of a trickle charger. For years, I had one on batteries used on a boat lift, and found that it slightly overcharged the batteries and ruined them. Charge management electronics make a trickle charger more expensive that a transformer and some diodes, but less likely to overcharge. I've actually gotten better battery life mistreating them: letting them sit until needed and then boosting if necessary.

Trev · Jan 30, 2004

( Charge management electronics make a trickle charger more expensive that a transformer and some diodes, but less likely to overcharge. I've actually gotten better battery life mistreating them: letting them sit until needed and then boosting if necessary. )

Ut oh. Now that's interesting...

I just put a new battery in my JD4300, and have a "Battery Tender" hooked up to it because I thought they were supposed to extend the battery life.. in addition to making sure you always have full cranking power for those ultra-cold days.

http://www.batterystuff.com/battery/deltran/battery_tender.htm

Did I make a mistake?

Tks,
Bob

Egon · Jan 30, 2004

Trev:

The only mistake you made is not moving to a climate where frost is unknown. But then; depending on personal preference, that may not be a mistake either.

Egon

bubenberg · Jan 30, 2004

Mr. M.R. this looks like it is going to be another one of those long ones, like you started in the Stone Ages of Internet and Power Trac.

have to concur with Charlie, if i charge the batteries too often they last 18 month, otherwise the see the fall season or beginning of the winterseason of the third year ... but at times i get too **** and have that battery charger too often out there doing it's thing. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Trev · Jan 30, 2004

( Trev:

The only mistake you made is not moving to a climate where frost is unknown. But then; depending on personal preference, that may not be a mistake either.

Egon )

Egon, trust me.. I've made a LOT more mistakes than just that! I'm slowly working my way through the list of all possible mistakes.. and am up to the J's now. I'd post the list, but it's too big. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Bob /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

MossRoad · Jan 30, 2004

What I have is trickle charger that I used on my motorcycles for many years. I'd hook it up in the fall and let it sit all winter. Any nice day that I wanted to take the bike out, the battery worked just fine. I have also used it on cars and trucks in storage and it seemed to work well. I'll try it out and let you know how it does.

As it is right now, I think the battery in the PT is about shot. I fully charged it last week and have only run the tractor about 3 times since. I'm just hoping to get it through the winter and then replace it with the largest CCA battery that I can find that fits in there. I might also look into sheilding the battery from the engine heat with some type of insulation/shield. It gets very hot in there in the summer and that can't be good for it. I like the new design like Paul's much better.... If I only could have waited 2 years... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Egon · Jan 30, 2004

Is there any chance you can locate the battery in another position? The cables can be extended.

Egon

MossRoad · Jan 30, 2004

Not a chance. This thing is packed tight. The only place to put the battery would be outside the engine compartment or up on the top of the engine cover. The new design does not have this problem, as I think they used my model year as a test bed to work out the bugs! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif hee hee. Still love it, though. Great little machine. Keeps getting better with each re-design. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif