Heated or Non-Heated Storage?

[ovrszd]

Seriously? Heated all the way. Don't worry about condensation 'cause when you pull the tractor inside, it will be warmed up, and since at operating temps it will be warmer than the air inside, that won't be a problem. Any condensation on the metal parts that are cold will dry off during storage. Your tractor will reach operating temps faster, there will be less condensation in the crankcase while warming up, it's easier on the hyraulics(pump, seals, valves, etc..), your battery will crank better, and your glow plugs won't have to work as hard. Oh yeah, your seat won't start off as cold either.

I was surprised how many posts were here before someone hit the condensation issue on the head.

Matt nailed it. If you want to increase the possibility of condensation in your tanks then park it outside in the cold. If you want to minimize condensation then park it in a heated building. He pretty much explained why.

Secondarily, it's sooooo much easier on the machinery to be started warm, including the gearbox on the blower.

I can't recall the last time I scraped frost off my transportation vehicle windshields or my tractor seat. Given the choice, always choose heated storage.

 

[D7E]

Our -30 winters with wind chills in the -40's mean that a heated shop is best to keep the hyd oil thin but we only have room for 3 tractors and many stay outside with block heaters but start up means you go for breakfast before the hyd's stop screaming and will move at all and the smaller mechanical fwd will spin the back tyres because the 80-90 is so thick in the front axle...
Only condensation issue i get is with a cat D7 dozer that lives outside will freeze the starter motor after a long day then a cold night and the starter has to be removed and thawed a few mornings a week..???
Why do our license plates say "sunny manitoba"..?

 

[Matt_Jr]

Our -30 winters with wind chills in the -40's mean that a heated shop is best to keep the hyd oil thin but we only have room for 3 tractors and many stay outside with block heaters but start up means you go for breakfast before the hyd's stop screaming and will move at all and the smaller mechanical fwd will spin the back tyres because the 80-90 is so thick in the front axle...
Only condensation issue i get is with a cat D7 dozer that lives outside will freeze the starter motor after a long day then a cold night and the starter has to be removed and thawed a few mornings a week..???
Why do our license plates say "sunny manitoba"..?

If I were you, I'd wrap a heated blanket around your D7's starter.

 

[D7E]

If I were you, I'd wrap a heated blanket around your D7's starter.

Nice idea but she's parked in the bush 5 miles from the yard ..sometimes a reddy heater and a generator will free it but with the thick sheilding and location of the starter it's hard to direct the heat well enough and takes hours..I often wonder if the conversion from a pup motor to 24v was a step foreward..?