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.