no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0!

   / no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0! #1  

44trxfun

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2003
Messages
469
Location
western NY
Tractor
MF GC2300
no heater; no charger & expectin\' 15 below 0!

Hey folks, you've had some great suggestions for me. I really appreciate it. I went out and got some PowerService today and will treat my fuel. Thing is we've got a forecast for 10-15 below 0 tomorro (5 below tonight) and I don't have 1) heated garage, 2) block heater, or 3) trickle charger.

Assuming the fuel is treated with PowerService, think I'll still be able to get 'er started?
 
   / no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0! #2  
Re: no heater; no charger & expectin\' 15 below 0!

You will if you have a good battery.

You could always build a small fire under the oil pan to warm it up.

We used to take a cheap charcoal grill pan, put in some charcoal, light it, let it burn down just as you would if you were grinning hot dogs. Shove it under the oil pan for an hour. She will start right up. Then you can grill some weenies for lunch. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0! #3  
Re: no heater; no charger & expectin\' 15 below 0!

If I were in your situation and knew I HAD to get my tractor started, I would do two things: Pull the battery and take it indoors overnight, and secondly, have a set of jumper cables handy so you can boost it from another vehicle if needed.

Sorry to say this, but I can't imagine living in cold weather without a charger. I have at least 4 of them.
 
   / no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0! #4  
Re: no heater; no charger & expectin\' 15 below 0!

Never heard of that idea, maybe I will try it sometime !!!
 
   / no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0! #5  
Re: no heater; no charger & expectin\' 15 below 0!

if it is a good battery, u should have no problem. u can try putting a light bulb next to the oil pan. another thing u might try is start it up latter tonight and let the tractor run for 20 min or so, you would be suprised how long it takes to take all the heat out of metal and fluids, remember also the the garage will probably be about 10 to 15 deg. warmer that out side.
2 things i would never be without in this climate is a decent charger and a set of jumper cables in the trunk of each vehicle.
 
   / no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0! #6  
Re: no heater; no charger & expectin\' 15 below 0!

And it is very handy to have a long heavy duty tow strap and a D-handled scoop shovel in your trunk also. It amazes me how many people get stuck and need a tow when five minutes of work with a good shovel can get them rolling.
 
   / no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0! #7  
Re: no heater; no charger & expectin\' 15 below 0!

-15 below.

Get in the habit of going out every five to six hours and warming her up or borrow 5030's charcoal grill.

Another option is a tarp of some kind and an electric heater if you have a power source.

Egon
 
   / no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0! #8  
Re: no heater; no charger & expectin\' 15 below 0!

An old bush pilot's trick is to remove the battery, drain the oil and take them indoors. Replace the battery, pour the warm oil into the engine and then start it. If you want to get exotic, heat the oil in a saucepan.
 
   / no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0! #9  
Re: no heater; no charger & expectin\' 15 below 0!

A safer version of 5030's idea would be to use a kerosene space heater or a Kero-sun type heater on your tractor. I try to keep the tractor in my main garage, where I use a thermostat on my kerosene heater to keep the temp above freezing, but when I have to put the tractor in the other garage, I heat it with the heater for a 1/2 hour or so before starting. Works real well.
I remember my dad using the trick of starting a fire under the bulldozer on logging jobs. I had to resort to that in the Adirondack Mountains once. My ATV would not even turn over when the temp was -26 one morning. Took some coals from the woodstove, placed them on a sheet of metal siding, and it started up after an hour!
Will
 
   / no heater; no charger & expectin' 15 below 0! #10  
Re: no heater; no charger & expectin\' 15 below 0!

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sorry to say this, but I can't imagine living in cold weather without a charger. I have at least 4 of them. )</font>

Can't imagine dealing with the cold with no heaters either.
 

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