OK NOT to start tractor in cold weather?

[ray66v]

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,

Battery tenders/ trickle chargers will extend the life of a battery. The low current rate on most is not effective when the temperatures are extremely low, (say single digits, and below). A monthly charging with a 5+ amp charger will keep you safe. The other option is, of course, move the battery inside for the winter, and use the tender. Also, do not store store batteries directly on top of a concrete floor. Many believe this will slowly discharge them.

Running an sizable amount of power 450' is going to cost you. If you only need power occasionally, what about a generator?

 

[Gary Fowler]

My shop is not 450 feet from where I intend to build my retirement home, but more like 300. I did the math on the cost and decided that it was cheaper in my expected lifetime to just have the power company run me a separate service to my shop. I have 100 amp service there and the cost of the wire and extra disconnect/breakers at the house was going to run me close to $2K in material and labor since I didnt want an overhead line from my house to the shop. The power company will run an overhead line from their closest pole to the shop for free. The minimum monthly bill is only $15 per month and I will use more electric energy than that on average per month.

 

[LBrown59]

Running the tractor an hour a month isn't enough to keep your battery fully charged. I use a battery charger for that.

15 to 20 minutes once a month keeps the batterys charged enough that my trucks and tractors will start every time I go to start them.
If you have a week or dying battery that's another story.

 

[wedge40]

Well I hope you're happy.
45 to 50 minute drive. Today took 1.5 hours.

Wedge

 

[john_bud]

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.

IMHO, You are not doing anything good to the machines. The engine oil will be building up a LOT of moisture from that and the muffler / pipes will also build and hold water leading to early rot.

I don't know where you are, but here it gets a bit "nippy" in the winter. I don't do that and have had no problems with battery life, etc. In fact the 'bota has a battery from '99 or 00. The old Ford has one from '90 - '92. I don't charge them, or run the machines unless it is going to be USED for 1 hour post warm up.

Naturally, your machines - your choice. Just a different opinion.

jb

 

[franklinute]

I would like to add a few of my thoughts. I think that it helps gas powered equipment to be started regularly because the gas in the carb can evaporate and leave a residue. On diesel equipment I think not starting during the winter is fine. I do start my equipment about once a month and let it run for 30+ minutes just for the peace of mind that if I have to use it it should be ready. Probably a good idea to actually drive the tractor and use the hydraulics too. I think that it is a good idea disconnecting the ground side of the battery just in case. Also check your air cleaner some critters can make a nest in there. Many years ago we had an old tractor start and drive out the shed when a rodent chewed on ignition wires in the dash and the wires must have crossed.(The tractor was an old gasser with no start safety switches)

 

[Runner]

"Does anyone use a Battery Tender for winter storage?"

I have battery tenders in both boats and I use a cheapie HF battery trickle charger on a truck that sits a lot.

I think these do a good job, however, I don't trust that they will cut off when necessary, even though they are supposed to do so. I have had them boil the water out of a battery before.

Therefore, I always hook up a lamp timer to the power supply that only lets them stay on for a few hours per day.

This seems to work well for me.

 

[Max2310]

lhfarm: How cold is "very cold" in your area?

Because here when it's cold, it can get bellow 40 without wind factor. Even a new battery suffers in that type of weather which is why I recommand not to leave the battery in the tractor.

Now I'm lucky and get to keep the tractor in a warm garage but it sleep outside for two days not too long ago and it was not as cold as -40 (closer to minus 30 (-22F)) and it didn't start. My ATV was not even trying and the tractor was trying but was very weak and is less than a year old (ATV less than 2 years)!! (I started it later that day after plugging it for a while an used a boosterpack)

Cold may hold battery charges but freezing cold could kill it! Despite what others says, they don't sale battery warmers just for the fun of it! If you can leave a battery tender on it and it's not getting too cold, that could be an option since a well charged battery will be more resistant.

If your tractor sleeps outside, I would worry more about getting it frozen to the ground and thats not fun and its hard on the tires...

If you really want to start it once in a while, I would choose the warmer days to do it and let it warm up well and drive it arround abit if possible...

So many different scenarios but I think you have a lot to choose from with all those good responses.

Max

 

[lhfarm]

lhfarm: How cold is "very cold" in your area?

Because here when it's cold, it can get bellow 40 without wind factor. Even a new battery suffers in that type of weather which is why I recommand not to leave the battery in the tractor.

Now I'm lucky and get to keep the tractor in a warm garage but it sleep outside for two days not too long ago and it was not as cold as -40 (closer to minus 30 (-22F)) and it didn't start. My ATV was not even trying and the tractor was trying but was very weak and is less than a year old (ATV less than 2 years)!! (I started it later that day after plugging it for a while an used a boosterpack)

Cold may hold battery charges but freezing cold could kill it! Despite what others says, they don't sale battery warmers just for the fun of it! If you can leave a battery tender on it and it's not getting too cold, that could be an option since a well charged battery will be more resistant.

If your tractor sleeps outside, I would worry more about getting it frozen to the ground and thats not fun and its hard on the tires...

If you really want to start it once in a while, I would choose the warmer days to do it and let it warm up well and drive it arround abit if possible...

So many different scenarios but I think you have a lot to choose from with all those good responses.

Max

Cold is certainly relative! We have had a string of single-digit nights, highs in the mid-20s (F) and a few days above freezing. That must sound like a heat wave to you. The tractors sleep in an unheated barn. I plan on starting the tractors this weekend, to clear the snow we have had the past couple of days.

I've enjoyed this thread and will put myself on a starting schedule using the many suggestions, including finding the warmest days and running them for a long period after warm up. I'm going to exercise my generator too, since I've no power to the barn and use that to run the block heater and charger, before trying to start.

Thanks to everyone.

 

[john_bud]

Cold is certainly relative! We have had a string of single-digit nights, highs in the mid-20s (F) and a few days above freezing. That must sound like a heat wave to you. The tractors sleep in an unheated barn. I plan on starting the tractors this weekend, to clear the snow we have had the past couple of days.

Yeah, that is a heat wave! We had a couple days where the morning temps were in the -30's F and for the past 28 days it's been no warmer than 32. A couple weeks where the high was between -5F and +5F. Today it was toasty with a daytime high of +12F, some sun and little wind. Felt great!

If this keeps up, I'm gonna have a CFC release party to hopefully cause some global warming! (The facts show that the last year of temp increases was 1998. Temps have dropped every year from that high, while CO2 has risen. Cough cough - SCAM!! cough. 'nuff said.

jb