Warm up RPMs?

john_bud · Dec 23, 2001

In addition to all of the good advice on idle speed echoed here on TBN,, my dealer also told me to hook the clutch peddle (in the down position) while warming the engine. This is supposed to keep the fluid pressure to a manageable level while the 30 weight oil is still dern near solid in the hydrostatic transmission. This may not be applicable to your situation, but here in Wisconsin, it gets to the cold side of -30 on occasion...

John Bud

gerard · Dec 23, 2001

For those of you with block heaters that don't have a thermostat and don't want them powered all the time there's a cheap device called a thermocube which is bascially a plug in outlet with a pre set thermostat in it that comes on at a pre-set temp. I have one that comes on at 20deg F so when it gets cold I can just leave it plugged in and if it above 20 I don't have to worry about it. I have also used a simple plug in dial timer for when I know I'm going to be plowing in the morning. Set it a couple hours before I get up and come out to a pre warmed tractor.

GlueGuy · Dec 24, 2001

Dennis,

My B7500 idles at 1100-1200 anyway, so that's where I leave it during warm up. On colder days, there's a bit more of that "rattle" sound until the juices get flowing.

The GlueGuy

Harv · Dec 24, 2001

On colder days, there's a bit more of that "rattle" sound until the juices get flowing.

Uhhh... you're still talking about your tractor, aren't you, old fella? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Boondox · Dec 24, 2001

Dennis -- For less than $10 at Home Depot I picked up a timer to plug my block heater into. I have it set to come on at 2am and off at 7am. So if I use the tractor to plow it's warm by the time I get up...and if there's nothing to plow it shuts off by itself.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

Jeff396 · Dec 24, 2001

My B7500 also idles at 1100 to 1200 rpm. This seemed kinda high to me but after reading that idleing for extended periods of time is bad (and that yours does the same) figured that Kubota may have set it there on purpose. Unless, that is, you bought from Carvers also and they just like it a bit higher.

Jeff

DRFoster · Dec 24, 2001

I'll probably go the timer route too. I'd like a solution where the block heater doesn't come on daily, but only those days I look out the window at 4AM and see snow. If I had some kind of switch in the house (150 plus feet from the garage/tractor) to turn it on when I see snow, that would be ideal.

My other concerns with a timer are the current flow and a 3-way plug. I've got several timers for using with lights, ... but none of them are rated to the 1500W the block heater draws (I believe that's what it draws.) Also, all the timers I've got only have 2-way plugs (i.e., no ground post.)

I think I'll swing by Home Depot this week and see if they stock a heavier duty timer than the ones I've got. I have a feeling I'm going to be needing the heater more as the winter wears on. We have another -10F "brisk" morning out there today. Thankfully, no snow.

Anonymous Poster · Dec 24, 2001

...are rated to the 1500W the block heater draws (I believe that's what it draws...

Most of the engine block heaters are between 400-800 watts... you may want to check with your Kubota dealer for the exact consumption...

GlueGuy · Dec 24, 2001

still talking about your tractor

Well.... I was.... Now you got me to thinkin' about it though...../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The GlueGuy

GlueGuy · Dec 24, 2001

What you need is a little relay operated by a regular timer, or a remote. Kind of like the relays they use to operate a well pump or such.

The GlueGuy