PowerTrac Cold Weather Heaters....

Frank Sorbello · Feb 17, 2015

It was 20 degrees in the barn this morning. I turned on the heater last night. The hydraulic tank was warm to the touch. Choke cable was frozen. I tried to start for about 10 seconds, then gave a quick shot of starting fluid. It fired instantly. I whole heartedly believe if the choke wasn't frozen she would have started with out the aid of starting fluid. What causes the cable to freeze? For those of you that are on the fence about the heater, I love it.

MossRoad · Feb 17, 2015

Choke cable could get melted snow in one end or the other, or moisture some other way, and then it freezes. Or it could be rust in the cable and not moisture at all. Do you ever lubricate the cable?

I know my starter key switch freezes a couple times a year, always after plowing in blowing snow. Bad location for that switch to be on a horizontal surface like that.

SpringHollow · Feb 18, 2015

In my case, it was moisture in the cable. When it warms up from running, it would then move. I got one of those throttle etc cable lubers (clamps onto the end and shoots some lube down the cable). That has helped.

Ken

PTWannaHave · Feb 18, 2015

On lawn tractor choke/throttle/snowblower chute control cables, I've had good long-term results by taking the cable off, letting it dry thoroughly, make sure it move relatively freely, and then fille the cable housing with 3-in-1 generic thin oil. (Fill slowly, a couple drops at a time, when working on something else in the shop.)

When the oil starts coming out the other end of the hanging cable, it's ready to reinstall on the machine. My snowblower cables (2, for chute deflection) have been working great for 7yrs. now...

cqaigy2 · Feb 18, 2015

SpringHollow said:
In my case, it was moisture in the cable. When it warms up from running, it would then move. I got one of those throttle etc cable lubers (clamps onto the end and shoots some lube down the cable). That has helped.

Ken

I've used those clamp type cable lubricators with good results, when living in a colder climates. I'd imagine it helps to push out moisture too.

ponytug · Feb 18, 2015

X2. I push WD40 down it first to flush the water out, and then follow it with a dry Teflon lubricant.

All the best,

Peter

cqaigy2 said:
I've used those clamp type cable lubricators with good results, when living in a colder climates. I'd imagine it helps to push out moisture too.

RegL · Feb 18, 2015

When I shut down I try to remember to leave the choke and throttle in the position they need to be in to start the engine next time. On the portable generator I also leave the on/off switch to on. You would not believe how long I've pulled on that darn thing during a power outage because I forgot to turn the switch on.

MossRoad · Feb 18, 2015

I left the key on my PT425 on one time.... added 50 hours to the meter and drained the battery. :laughing:

I hear you about pulling some stupid motor on some stupid piece of equipment only to find the stupid switch in the off position. Yeah, the equipment is stupid... not me. :dance1:

ernemats · Feb 18, 2015

I sure would like to have one of those heaters to try now it has been below zero a lot of nights and they are predicting it to be below zero the next several nights. I tried to start my 422 the other day without success, it would turn over slowly but not start, put the battery on charge for a while and a magnetic heater on the hydraulic tank overnight , still would not start and it is too cold to mess with it any further, so I fired up my Agco Allis tractor to plow some snow and get some more firewood. Has anyone that has the new heaters tried them in real cold conditions and if they work how many watt are they? Frank do you think it is necessary for 2 KAT heaters or would one do

Frank Sorbello · Feb 18, 2015

That silicone heater doesn't look like much, but let me tell you its the cats ***. All you need is one of those heaters. It is a 250 watt heater. I was using 2 KAT 400 watt magnetic heaters, with battery charger, with a make shift tent, with a propane forced air heater under the tent just to get it started.
If you buy one, follow directions for installation. Make sure you prep the area you are sticking it on. Use RTV silicone around the edges. you will wish you had it years ago.