Thermostart vs magnetic oil pan heater

[California]

After running the magnetic sump heater a while to thin the oil ... how about sticking a hair dryer in the air intake when you crank?

 

[PILOON]

After running the magnetic sump heater a while to thin the oil ... how about sticking a hair dryer in the air intake when you crank?

Funny you say that as I am pondering a method of heating that air in or around the air filter.

Some thoughts;
Clamp the 200 watt to the air cleaner, but probably too slow.
Wrapping the air filter 'can' with pipe heater cable, again probably too slow.
My better thought is probably something like a 500 watt soldering iron element firmly attached to the filter box.

(Don't think my wife would want her hair drier stored in my tractor. LOL)

I do know that some brands of tractors do use heated air for that 'cold start'.
In fact probably a glow plug stuck in there could do the trick, after all a glow plug is a glorified resistor.
Heck that's it !, HD porcelain wire wound resistor, perhaps those old Chysler resistors used to drop the ignition coil voltage for easy starts.

 

[rScotty]

So far it seems I should put both the TS and an oil heater on it.

That's the way I see it. Why not use TS and engine heating both in cold weather? They do different things.

For that matter, and for the person who is really a nut about reducing "cold start wear" then using a magnetic oil pan heater plus a coolant heater has some benefits too.
rScotty

 

[Gary Sweat]

Tractor Tires For Sale

Ran into this add the other day maybe alittle out of the way :laughing: Might check never Know.

Carey

I'll contact them and see if he can provide photos close up. Doesn't hurt to check it out.

 

[Gary Sweat]

$10,000 to test and certify each model ROPS sounds about right when you include the cost of tractors smashed in the first few tests of each different model!

But really - hiring a design firm to design the thing, obtain tractors, then design and observe the testing, plus the cost of liability insurance proportioned across each unit sold, must really jack up the per-item average cost for a relatively low-volume item like this. It isn't a simple materials & labor + markup situation.

I can understand your thinking but I can't agree with the cost.

For one, I doubt they used a perfectly good tractor for testing. All they have to do is replicate the weight, center of gravity and dimensions of a tractor. This is probably done with a mock up. Who knows, maybe some do use a tractor but I'm pretty sure it would be a none running one. Either way, I would think that they are selling the same units to the manufactures (OEM), after market companies and individuals like us. I can't see how they would not make up the cost of development in the first year and I don't see them going to this effort and cost based on just selling to the public.

As with anything, the first ones off the line are expensive for just that reason. But at some point the price starts to fall after the cost is recovered. Maybe it's because you can't by CUT in the US without one that allows the price to stay high?

One last note, I just looked on-line at zero turn mower ROPS and they run around $200.00. I know there is a weight difference between tractors and mowers but the ROPS on my Toro mower is pretty heavy. Material wise, I bet there about the same. So how can they sell them so much lower

 

[Gary Sweat]

That's the way I see it. Why not use TS and engine heating both in cold weather? They do different things.

For that matter, and for the person who is really a nut about reducing "cold start wear" then using a magnetic oil pan heater plus a coolant heater has some benefits too.
rScotty

Well, that's pretty much what I did. Ordered the glow plug setup and the 600W magnetic heater. Now I've learned there may be a way to install a block heater as well. How much this is going to cost in my electric bill is anybodies guess. Suppose I will know soon enough, the parts are being delivered tomorrow.:confused2:

 

[Havasutom]

I installed a new thermostart and a factory block heater in my tractor. If the block heater is pluged in for 1 hour the tractor starts right away. The thermostart is only needed if I need to start the tractor cold. My tractor is located near Flagstaff, AZ @ 7,500' altitude and I just used it in 10 degree weather. The thermostart works but seems to be a little more trouble than just heating up the tractor. The factory block heater works very well.

 

[Car Doc]

Funny you say that as I am pondering a method of heating that air in or around the air filter.

Hi PILOON,

Not sure what brand tractor you have but the TS (thermostart) on these Yanmars IS an air heater thats all it is. It uses diesel fuel and actually just lights a fire in the intake using fuel its crude but simple and it works hard to beat that!

 

[Car Doc]

Hey Gary,

I called my local Mazda dealer for future reference on the subject and asked about the thread size on that heater. He wasn't able to tell me anything because he didn't stock it, now if you were to call that dealer that is selling them they may be able to give you some info.

And btw a 2.3l car engine is a lot bigger than a Yanmar diesel tractor engine so it should be plenty of heater fwtw. hth

 

[Gary Sweat]

Hey Gary,

I called my local Mazda dealer for future reference on the subject and asked about the thread size on that heater. He wasn't able to tell me anything because he didn't stock it, now if you were to call that dealer that is selling them they may be able to give you some info.

And btw a 2.3l car engine is a lot bigger than a Yanmar diesel tractor engine so it should be plenty of heater fwtw. hth

Thanks. I think installing all 3 types might be a bit of overkill but it gives me the option of which one(s) to use. The block heater and the oil pan heater could be used if the tractor is in the garage and the TS could be used if it is sitting outside all day with no way to plug in the other two. My view is a machine is not worth much if it doesn't work when you need it.