PowerTrac Cold Weather Heaters....

MossRoad · Jan 19, 2015

BobRip said:
If you used oil that thin, you would have lower wheel motor torque when hot. You could change it summer to winter maybe. You can't get all the oil out, so you would be mixing the viscosties.

I agree. Xw20 oil in winter is not an option. Even in winter, if I run my PT for about 30-45 minutes, the hydraulic cooler fan will come on. And we all know that Xw40 and even Xw50 is preferred once the hydraulics warm up.

Frank Sorbello · Jan 23, 2015

I finally installed the new KAT silicone heater yesterday. I had it plugged in for 4 hours. Started right up at 38 degrees in the barn. Real test will be on tuesday. Temps are supposed to be in the teens.

MuncyBob · Jan 23, 2015

If it starts that easy come Tuesday I'll be getting one for sure, if I ever get mine back from the shop

Frank Sorbello · Jan 23, 2015

I was using 2 KAT 300 watt Magnum heaters. You really couldn't feel the warmth on the metal. A half hour of the this KAT silicone heater and can feel the metal all around the heater really warming up. Again the real teat when the temps are in the 20s and below. Very optimistic from what I have seen today.

duane · Jan 25, 2015

Frank,

What wattage heater did you (250 watt or the 500 watt) get? Where did you locate it, any pix?

Thanks

Frank Sorbello · Jan 25, 2015

It is the KAT 24250 silicone heater. I found it on Amazon. I believe it is a 250 watt.

duane · Jan 25, 2015

Frank,

Thank you for the picture. Anxious to hear your results in colder weather. Interested in how long you have to keep plugged in to see the positive effects

Frank Sorbello · Jan 26, 2015

30 degrees in the barn this morning. Plugged in last night at 11pm. Started with no hesitation whatsoever. The metal all around the tank is warm to the touch. Terry was soooo right with this heater. Can't wait for the weather to get in the teens to try it. I know this is still early, IMO, if you have a PT 422 or 425 and she is cold starting, this is probably your best solution. In 30 degree weather last year, had to make a make shift tent in my barn with a tarp and put a propane heater under it for a hour, along with the two 300 watt KAt magnetic heaters.

MuncyBob · Jan 26, 2015

This is good news and for once I'm actually looking forward to a frigid night or 2

It would be ideal for me if I can plug one in at 7am and get her to start at noon.

MossRoad · Jan 26, 2015

Just got our Jan 22 electric bill.... $150.00.... Probably due to the 40' Christmas tree out front lit up with 3600 lights for 4 weeks night and day... but, a 250W heater is like, 6-40w bulbs on. If you don't leave it on all the time, and maybe just 3-4 hours per day, its probably not going to cost but $15-20 for the month. That's pretty reasonable.

Frank Sorbello · Jan 27, 2015

28 degrees in the barn this morning, started with no hesitation. Can't ask for anything more.

PTWannaHave · Jan 27, 2015

Keep us up-to-date when you encounter what is likely to be your lowest temperature of this season...

MuncyBob · Jan 28, 2015

Sounds good Frank, I doubt I want to be out on the PT in temps much colder than that anyhow! Lasat night we got down to 7.

MossRoad · Jan 28, 2015

I was ice fishing at 10F yesterday morning and it was beautiful. :laughing:

ernemats · Jan 28, 2015

Did you catch anything?

MossRoad · Jan 28, 2015

Nothing on Monday but three bites that I missed on a lake west of us. Yesterday I got half a dozen but no size to them at this lake that I grew up on. If you look at that picture, the lake used to be an oxbow bend in a river. Back in the 30s they cut if off of the river and made a straight channel with the WPA, which created a mile long lake. I am at the start of the bend. The high bank to the left is a cemetery. You can see a mausoleum up there. The ravine in the center of the high bank is where the French explorer LaSalle portaged between the St. Joseph river (a tributary of Lake Michigan) and the Grand Kankakee Marsh (the Everglades of the North) and the Kankakee river (a tributary of the Illinois river and eventually the Mississippi) and met the Potawatomi Indians at the Council Oak Tree about 400 yards inland. On the bank to the right of the ravine are two houses. The left one my father built and I lived in for the 1st 24 years of my life. We sold it after he passed away in '95. Anyhow, you'll notice the open water and geese. There are numerous springs along the high bank that keep that section open in even the most brutal winters. There are usually robins pecking worms in the mud in January down there! Where I am at, the ice is a solid 5" (4" is very safe). 20' in front of my it's 2". So, gotta be careful. To my left and out of the picture is an old steam boat landing. That is the farthest up the river from Lake Michigan powered craft could go at the time. There was a wagon trail about 1/4 mile out to a main road, where street cars used to come out to take folks back to town. I spent years running along, up and down those high banks, chasing wildlife, fishing and rowing our boat, swimming and exploring. It was a great place to grow up.

ernemats · Jan 28, 2015

Sounds like a very interesting place to have grown up.

MossRoad · Jan 28, 2015

Yeah, we got to run wild.... like feral kids. :laughing:

Anyhow, I enjoy very cold weather. This winter has been a wimp. I only had to scrape my truck windows twice this year. Supposed to get some icy mix later tonight. And snow between now and the weekend, so I'll be plowing with the PT soon enough. Last year we had a pile of snow 6' high and 75 yards long between our drive and the neighbor's. This year I have three little piles I could fit each in a pickup truck.

Frank Sorbello · Jan 31, 2015

The temperature in my barn this morning was 12 degrees. I plugged in the silicone heater at 11pm last night. This morning I tried to start my 422. The outside hydraulic tank was warm, however my choke cable was frozen. I tried to start but without the choke it wasn't going to happen. I didn't push the issue.

firemanmike69 · Jan 31, 2015

Frank Sorbello said:
The temperature in my barn this morning was 12 degrees. I plugged in the silicone heater at 11pm last night. This morning I tried to start my 422. The outside hydraulic tank was warm, however my choke cable was frozen. I tried to start but without the choke it wasn't going to happen. I didn't push the issue.

Happens to me if I don't cover my welder in my truck. I found if I pull the choke out just before shutdown it will start the next day and by the time it's warmed up enough to push the choke off it's thawed out.