Get An Engine Heater!!

[ElDorado]

Okay guys, the one hundred dollar question: What if the tractor shed does not have electricity and it is a fair piece from the electricity? Running a power cord 150+ feet doesn't thrill me. We get some cold weather and snow where I am. The power cord would quickly get buried by snow and then run over by the tractor or a snowmobile. Does anyone have any ideas? Taking the wife's car out of the garage is NOT a viable idea.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[DanD78]

My dealer also told me I would not need a block heater on my 3320 but I told him to include it any why. You are right about how easy it starts after being plugged in. Over the years I have delt with enough big diesel engines and what it takes to make them run that I didn't want the frustration.

Dan

 

[Thomas]

For now,do have trees etc. you could run cord high enough,than next year run under ground line.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Okay guys, the one hundred dollar question: What if the tractor shed does not have electricity and it is a fair piece from the electricity? Running a power cord 150+ feet doesn't thrill me. We get some cold weather and snow where I am. The power cord would quickly get buried by snow and then run over by the tractor or a snowmobile. Does anyone have any ideas? Taking the wife's car out of the garage is NOT a viable idea.

Thanks,
Matt

If you don't have trees to run the power cord through, how about nailing together a few 2x4's to make supports for the wire.

Or, park the tractor closer to the house and put a big tarp over it.

On the other hand, if you can't get the drive cleared, what good does the car in a garage do? Start her car for her and clean it off for her in exchange for the garage. ...I know, that will never fly.

 

[art]

Do newer tractors have compression release to aid starting?

My 1983 Kubota diesel does and I rarely use it. But a couple of weeks ago, it didn't start and the battery was weak. I put a charge on the battery and came back and tried it and still didn't start up at first try, so I used the compression release, got it spinning fast right away and let go to give it compression and bang, it started right up.

We haven't had any new engines designed with a compression release for over thirty years. With the use of various other systems like indirect injection and some of the newer electronic injection systems varing the timing and better starters as well as pumps things have moved away from needing that system.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Okay guys, the one hundred dollar question: What if the tractor shed does not have electricity and it is a fair piece from the electricity? Running a power cord 150+ feet doesn't thrill me. We get some cold weather and snow where I am. The power cord would quickly get buried by snow and then run over by the tractor or a snowmobile. Does anyone have any ideas? Taking the wife's car out of the garage is NOT a viable idea.

Thanks,
Matt

Use that tractor in the spring to trench a 30 amp circuit with some 10ga wire in cheap plastic 1/2" conduit. Put in a couple of outlets and light and you will be set. I would put it on a switch from the house. When you wake up throw the switch and she will start working. Go out in 1 hours and you will be good to go.

As for heaters I am convinced also. I had a F-150 with on and never used it. Came with it from the factory. Anyway I stepped up to my first diesel in 2004 and it got down to -20 at the inlaws on Christmas eve. I plugged it in that night and the next morning I feared the worst. Went out and just turned the key on to run the glow plugs and the heater was blowing hot air. It started right up. Of course I topped off the tank and treated the fuel the night before.

I installed a block heater on my 28 HP Jinma and wow. Plug it in and come back 45 minutes later and turn on the key the water temp gauge shows 120 deg. Fires right up but I still have to let it warm up to get the hydros alive good. I also have a compression release but do not use it.

Chris

 

[dodge man]

I have seen trouble lights that were setup to be run off a car battery. You could get a seperate car battery and hang the trouble light under the hood of your tractor, but that sounds like more work than its worth, since you would have to haul the extra battery back and forth to keep it charged. You could also use an invertor to power a block heater off a car battery, but I'd guess that would suck the battery down pretty quick.

 

[jdfire]

Not sure how much the block heaters draw, but I'm thinking of taking my generator with me when I visit my tractor, which is on property with no electricity.

 

[GPintheMitten]

We haven't had any new engines designed with a compression release for over thirty years. With the use of various other systems like indirect injection and some of the newer electronic injection systems varing the timing and better starters as well as pumps things have moved away from needing that system.

I wondered about that. Thanks for the info. My tractor is 27 years old...design of the engine is probably dates back over 30 years.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Not sure how much the block heaters draw, but I'm thinking of taking my generator with me when I visit my tractor, which is on property with no electricity.

0W-40 oil and a propane torch for the intake manifold. Good to go in 5minutes.
larry