OK NOT to start tractor in cold weather?

[lhfarm]

We have had a strange winter here in central Indiana. Very cold termeratures and no snow. It has been too cold to work outside and haven't needed to plow snow, so my tractors have just been sitting. Should I be starting them every weekend?

I am sure the battery could benefit from the charge, but are there other reasons to start an engine on a regular basis in winter?

Thanks,

 

[Egon]

Oh my, the responses you will get!

The battery can always move inside and be checked to ensure the proper charge is maintained.

The rest of the tractor should survive quite well for the duration.

 

[lhfarm]

Guess I should have been more honest. The truth is I hate cold weather and my barn doesn't have power at the moment. I do have a generator there I should probably fire up to plug in the block heater.

I was hoping someone would say if you don't need to start them don't and I'd feel good about being lazy...

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

No need to start them. If you dont need to use it why add wear to the starting system.If it has a clutch block the pedal down and let it sit. Most construction and farm equiptment sit all winter long without being started.
Bill

 

[Botabill]

It's hard on a tractor to start it up in cold weather. Also don't plug in the block heater unless you need to start the machine. Just let it sit there until you need it. As Egon said if you have concern about the battery take it indoors where you can (but don't have to) put a battery tender on it.

 

[Max2310]

I would keep the fuel tank full and the battery warm and wouldn't worry about the rest. It doesn't sound right to start an engine when it's too cold if you don't need to...

Max

 

[dodge man]

I have seen this question before related to cars and trucks. There is a certain point that it is better to start a engine than let it sit. You don't want to let it sit to long without being started, all the oil drains down and things can get rusty after a while. That length of time is the question. Maybe two months, maybe a month, certainly at least a couple times a year. On the other hand, I restored a 70 Dodge Challenger that had been sitting for more than 10 years. I shot some WD40 in the cylinders and it started up and had no long term damage. I had the heads off later to fix some broken studs and the cylinder walls looked great. The fuel tank was a different story. In other words, I wouldn't start them on a regular basis unless they have sat for a couple of months or more.

 

[Philscbx]

They will survive ok outside, and a block heater is a good thing at 20 below set on a timer.
Long term in this cold, I had my 856 pto off, and made a plexiglass window
to fit perfect as the pto's housing.

I took a look through inside one day, and everywhere above the oil level was solid ice crystals.
If left too long, this moisture would eventually rust pit.
So if you want perfect long term storage, fill it full to the top, the fuel tanks, to engines and gear boxes.

I'm in the same latitude and attitude.
Left my JCB skid out the other night, and sure enough the next day
was a good test of the new glow plugs.

It almost took off, but I could tell it was torture.

Out comes the battery charger mounted on 2 wheel hand truck with backup battery,
propane 150,000 btu heater blowing in the open rear door,
and industrial heat gun aimed at the oil pan.

He's back inside.

 

[ray66v]

During cold weather, starting and running an engine, can result in condensation forming inside the engine, as it cools off. If the engine is run long enough the heat will remove all the moisture from the engine, as it escapes. If the engine is only run for short periods of time, moisture can accumulate from each cycle. So, if your not going to use the tractor, let it sit.

You should put a charger on the battery periodically. If you have a trickle charger, when it's really cold, they are less effective. So, it's still a good idea to run a 5 or 10 amp charger on it, once a month or so. If the battery is is dead, make sure it's not frozen, before charging.

 

[flusher]

We have had a strange winter here in central Indiana. Very cold termeratures and no snow. It has been too cold to work outside and haven't needed to plow snow, so my tractors have just been sitting. Should I be starting them every weekend?

I am sure the battery could benefit from the charge, but are there other reasons to start an engine on a regular basis in winter?

Thanks,

If any of your vehicles has shoe brakes on the rear, I'd release the parking brake so there's no danger of the drum becoming warped. That happened to one of my Subaru SUVs when I let it set in sub-freezing temperatures for 7 weeks with the parking brake set. Had to get the drums turned. Dumb mistake.

Blocking the clutch pedal makes sense also.

 

[Egon]

The other question is should those idle tires be filled with nitrogen?

 

[john_bud]

They will survive ok outside, and a block heater is a good thing at 20 below set on a timer.
Long term in this cold, I had my 856 pto off, and made a plexiglass window
to fit perfect as the pto's housing.

I took a look through inside one day, and everywhere above the oil level was solid ice crystals.
If left too long, this moisture would eventually rust pit.
So if you want perfect long term storage, fill it full to the top, the fuel tanks, to engines and gear boxes.

.

The ice crystals were from water in the oil. That's from not running it long and hot enough to get it out AND from leaving it in too long. Letting it set in the winter won't draw moisture in very fast as the air is pretty dry. Typically moisture is from spring summer and fall. A block heater is good, if you are about to start the engine. Running one just to heat it up (and no intention of running the tractor) is a waste of electricity and will just wear out the heater sooner with no gain.


To the OP, Just fill the fuel tank, block down the clutch and wait until spring. No harm at all. In fact, more harm will occur from running the vehicle only short amounts of time. Old timers rule of thumb was to run equipment for 1 hour minimum AFTER it was totally heated up to operational temperature. That includes the gear and hydraulic oils which are hard to even get warm, much less hot. If you don't want to remove the battery, take off the ground connection so it won't discharge.

jb

 

[wedge40]

We have had a strange winter here in central Indiana. Very cold termeratures and no snow. It has been too cold to work outside and haven't needed to plow snow, so my tractors have just been sitting. Should I be starting them every weekend?

I am sure the battery could benefit from the charge, but are there other reasons to start an engine on a regular basis in winter?

Thanks,

I'm just up the road from you and I have left my Ford 4000 outside for many years and it doesn't seem to have affected it. This year I pulled the battery and it's in the garage waiting for the snow. I think the coldest I've ever tried to start, was about 10 degrees and I have a block heater. If I had to use the tractor I would tent it with a tarp and put my kerosene heater under there for an hour or two.
Not sure if this makes much of a difference but mine is gas not diesel.

Wedge

 

[LBrown59]

I've had 2 car engines and 2 push mower motors lock up/freeze up as a direct result of failing to start and run them periodically.

 

[whistlepig]

We have had a strange winter here in central Indiana. Very cold termeratures and no snow. It has been too cold to work outside and haven't needed to plow snow, so my tractors have just been sitting. Should I be starting them every weekend?

I am sure the battery could benefit from the charge, but are there other reasons to start an engine on a regular basis in winter?

Thanks,

I live in Southwest Ohio about 1 mile from the Indiana border. Pretty much the same kind of weather. I run the tractor once a month for about an hour. This gets it to operating temperature. This lubricates the cylinder walls and valve stems. And it burns out the condensation in the crankcase. I have a Honda back up generator. Honda recommends running the generator at least once a month for all the reasons I have previously stated. Running the tractor an hour a month isn't enough to keep your battery fully charged. I use a battery charger for that.

 

[smfcpacfp]

The advice that others posted about not starting the tractor during the winter is good advice. I did see one piece of bad advice which is to keep the battery warm. A well charged battery will not freeze and the cold helps it keep the charge longer. I doubt that you will leave the tractor idle more than a couple of months so don't worry about it. Of course if it does lose it charge and freezes, you will need a new battery in all likelihood.

I would definitely put it on the charger the night before I next use it, if it is going to be more than a month sitting idle.

 

[lhfarm]

Well, we have a winter storm watch for the next couple of days and should finally get some snow. I won't be back at the farm until Saturday and the forecast is for temperatures just above freezing. So I'll need to start the tractor, but it won't be terribly cold

This thread has convienced me that I need to get power to my barn. I've been planning to do so, but haven't wanted to spend the money (it is 450' from my garage). Guess that is my spring project.

Does anyone use a Battery Tender for winter storage?

Thanks,

 

[LBrown59]

I live in Southwest Ohio about 1 mile from the Indiana border. Pretty much the same kind of weather. I run the tractor once a month for about an hour. This gets it to operating temperature. This lubricates the cylinder walls and valve stems. And it burns out the condensation in the crankcase. I have a Honda back up generator. Honda recommends running the generator at least once a month for all the reasons I have previously stated. Running the tractor an hour a month isn't enough to keep your battery fully charged. I use a battery charger for that.

I start and run my trucks and tractors 4 15 to 20 minutes monthly year around .
Keeps the motors from locking up and the batteries from going dead.

 

[JGY]

I've had 2 car engines and 2 push mower motors lock up/freeze up as a direct result of failing to start and run them periodically.

So how often do you run your equipment to maintain it? Inquiring people want to know!

Joe

 

[Gary Fowler]

TO LBROWN: By just running 15 minutes you may save the battery and lubricate the engine by doing this, BUT: I sure hope you increase the frequency of your oil changes because you are not getting the engines hot enough in 15 minutes of run time on a water cooled engine to boil off the condensate which then combines with the sulfur from your fuel to form sulfuric acid in the oil sump. This will definitely damage your seals, rings and all wear surfaces. Any engine should be perfectly capable of setting for 3-6 months without starting and not damage the engine if a good lube oil is used.