Toolcat block heater

[laurencen]

morning, had the Toolcat plugged in over night and it wants nothing to do with starting, the motor barely turns, Im thinking the block heater is pooched agree temperature is -38C but figured it would start, is it just too cold outside

 

[ruffdog]

I converted C to F .....-38C = -36.4F..........yeah that is cold. Are you using the synthetic engine oil?

 

[ruffdog]

The dry pocket type block heater may not be enough with those temps. A Kats in-hose type that has a small pump may be needed. Do you have the optional 1000cca battery?

Kat's Block Heaters| Engine Heaters, Oil Pan and Battery Heaters

 

[laurencen]

this is a 2020 model, 85 hours and oil is still from factory, oil change is 500 hours according to dealer maybe I should change it anyway when it warms up enough to start, felt around inside the side cover and no obvious sign its warming agree this heater may not do much at this temperature, previously the skidsteer would start at these temperatures its a S590 2016 model

 

[Xfaxman]

Are you sure that the block heater is getting power?

Do you have it on a GFCI controlled circuit?

 

[BisonTC]

I also have a 2020 Toolcat 5600 and was wondering what temp would be safe for starting. Our current lows are around -20F so I moved it into my heated garage to be on the safe side. I did have it outside with it plugged in around -0F and it started just like it had been in the heated garage. Does anyone else have experience at very low temps?
One other thing that I’m sure isn’t likely a big deal at all but my dealer said first oil change at 50 hours then every 500 hours or annually. Not sure if there is a different oil in the engine the first 50 hours.
Good luck!

 

[laurencen]

at -15C it started no problem without being plugged in, the power is at the plug tried a trouble light in it, still barely cranking so when it warms up here I will put it in the shop to warm up

 

[Cycledude]

Can you hear the block heater working ? Mine is definitely not easy to hear. If you touch the engine block next to the heater with your finger can you feel any heat ? I can feel some heat by mine but not a lot. Last time I used it the temperature was -6 F when I plugged it in and 1 1/2 hours later it started like it had already been running for an hour.
Are you sure the battery is good ?

 

[laurencen]

well my block heater is pretty useless, plugged in 18 hours, no heat noticeable feeling around the side and barely turns motor, battery is good, less than 8 months old, plug good wire good machine is useless as is, have to call dealer and see what they want to do, got to a high of -30 today but plugged in I expected it to start, sucks have lots of drifts and no machine

 

[Cycledude]

The first thing I would do is have the battery load tested to make sure that’s not the problem , most places that sell batteries would be happy to test it for free.

 

[laurencen]

seems the battery is fine given the temperature, its testing at over 550 cranking amps sitting in the machine, even with a boost from the F350 running the Toolcats motor turns slow as **** no way it will start, this new block heater style is not as good as the old style in the A series, that fired up if plugged in, this new one seems there is a sweet spot it will start

service was not surprised it will not start at this temperature and figures when it warms up it will be fine, go figure, I need a heated garage to park it in during cold spells

 

[Xfaxman]

Add a magnetic oil pan heater to it.

 

[ruffdog]

The standard battery is a 650cca and the optional battery is a 1000cca. I would assume that cold climates would get the big one....right?

 

[laurencen]

The standard battery is a 650cca and the optional battery is a 1000cca. I would assume that cold climates would get the big one....right?

yes the larger battery with the cold package, its -30c today for a high, -42c overnight so when it gets to -20 ish the plan is put a car warmer directed at the motor and warm the battery inside then give it a go to put it indoors, thinking of installing a battery warmer also and see how it does next cold spell

anyone else have this cold temperatures and run the Toolcat? the series A would always start this cold if plugged in, it definitely did nothing other than warm up for a hour to get oils flowing

 

[laurencen]

plugged it in last night, just started feeling around the heater area and its stone cold, Im starting to think the heater is dead, anyone with this dry block heater want to put a ohm meter on the plug leads and tell me the reading? it would be appreciated

 

[DJGTWO]

I have a 2020 ToolCat 5610 still with factory oil. I keep it in an unheated shed. This week it has been consistently -20. As long as I cycle the pre-heat through it’s timed cycle 2-3 times, my ToolCat starts without using the block heater. The 5610 does have the 1000 CNA battery.

 

[ruffdog]

On my cheap meter out in the shed, it measured about 38 ohms. Did you unscrew the wire plug from your heater and look at the prongs for a problem there?

My other meter shows about 33 ohms.

 

[ruffdog]

What have you found? Have you removed the heater to test it in the open to see if it is working? It is a slip fit where it slides in so any corrosion would make it tight.

 

[laurencen]

What have you found? Have you removed the heater to test it in the open to see if it is working? It is a slip fit where it slides in so any corrosion would make it tight.

it was -32C and blowing snow so not had a chance last night to check but I did plug the 2016 S590 in for a couple hours and it fired right up and after a couple hours plugged in the motor had warmer spots, if I get a chance today after work I will do some checking the forecast is -26C for a high today

 

[ruffdog]

it was -32C and blowing snow so not had a chance last night to check but I did plug the 2016 S590 in for a couple hours and it fired right up and after a couple hours plugged in the motor had warmer spots, if I get a chance today after work I will do some checking the forecast is -26C for a high today

Brrrrr! Good luck working in that nasty cold.