GC 2300 block heater

[Dickb]

Being a new owner of a GC 2300 I dutifully read the owners manual and discovered that MF recommends " Installation of accessory engine heater is recommended in cold weather conditions." I then called my local MF dealer to order the heater. He indicated that he did not list a engine heater for the GC 2300 in the parts manual and that he did not feel that it was necessary in light of the fact that the GC 2300 is equipped with glow plugs...

My question is ....

1. What has been the experience of the other GC 2300 owners during winter time operation.

2. If you have a block heater, where did you get it?

My only experience with diesel engines was a VW Dasher. It had glow plugs and a auxillary heater for winter operation. It would start with just the glow plug, but worked alot better if it had been plugged in over night.

 

[44trxfun]

Dick,

I'm going to back up one on you and tell you that my dealer too told me I wouldn't need a heater. If you do a search for "block heater" in the archive, you'll see that many dealers try to discourage their customers from getting the block heaters, but there just doesn't seem to be a good reason for it.

Anyway, last winter was mi-tee cold in western NY and I decided he was wrong. It was taking 2-3 rounds of glow plug warmups to get the tractor going. Making me nervous since I have a ~350 driveway and we got plenty of drifting snow. So I asked them to get me a block heater. Dealer told me "they" (MF?) had been having some trouble with the block heater installations. (I don't recall him elaborating, sorry.)

In lieu of the block heater, they did install an inline radiator hose heater and that worked well. I plugged it in for about an hour before I was going to start it and I don't think I had any trouble... (How quickly we forget!)

Good luck to you!

 

[Nasty135]

Dickb, Does your tractor sit outside? I have to think that living in MD like we do that a block heater really wouldn't be a neccessity. My old massey 135 with perkins diesel would always start right away even though at the time it did sit outside but it is a different animal(no glow plugs). My 1433v has always been kept inside but it is a non climate controlled space so it does get cold /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif and it has always started right away also...

So if yours is outside maybe an extension cord with sheilded light bulb or flood light would give enough warmth to assist as much as a block heater on such a small engine especially if you had a cover over it to help keep in the heat?? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Dickb]

Thank you for the information.... The tractor will be outside, covered, but still outside.

I realize that the winters in Maryland are not as severe as other places that I have lived but I am more concerned about the general wear and tear on the tractor caused by the cold weather starts.

My VW had a inline radiator heater and it worked well. This is actually the type of heater I would assume that they would use on these tractors as opposed to an actual block heater. Can you give me any information on the make and model number of the inline heater that the dealer installed on your tractor?

 

[Mike52]

I have an old MF 220 Compact Diesel. It sits outside under a tarp. My winter strategy is simple. I bought a magnetic block heater from JC Whitney....it's actually used to thaw pipes...its a heating element (about 200 watts I think) with a strong magnet. Get that sucker near the oil pan and it almost seems to jump out of your hand. I just plug it in for a few hours and go. The tarp helps keep the heat contained. 'Bout the same as putting a big light bulb under your tractor but a heckuva lot safer.

The other thing I've done is wire a breakaway connector to my battery...the breakaway end of the wire dangles underneath the dash....I clip one of those computer controlled battery maintainer chargers to it and leave it plugged in. The battery stays fresh, warm, and not overcharged. Get one that promises to prevent battery boil out, not the garden variety trickle charger. The breakaway connector makes it easy to unhook the thing without raising the hood. One extension cord runs the heater and the battery charger. I plug them in and lay the plugs on the seat under the tarp to keep the weather out.

 

[jeepcj7]

A block heater is available. I think MF p/n is 4269250M91 /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[thcri]

Your dealer probably says you don't need one but I guess if your tractor sits outside, you would never hurt anything by having one. Easier on your starter, faster starts, better lubrication. Just all around better and is a cheap investment. It's one of them deals where you can't go wrong. If your dealer can't come up with a block heater then get an inline hose heater.

murph

 

[Egon]

For an inline heater all you need are the hoze sizes and the wattage of the heater you will install. They should be available at any auto parts or tractor shop as well as many hardware stores. Inline hoze heaters are not tractor make specific.

A tarp thrown over the tractor and a small 700 [ +/- ] watt freestanding electric heater with a fan works too. This will even help heat the external hydraulics.

Egon