Winter Starting Question

[Dave01]

I'm looking out my window at 10 degrees this morning, got me thinking. I'm setting up the 2084 to plow. I'll run 5W30 dino oil. Does anyone use a block heater, or just crank it over and go? When I plowed with a JD 10 years ago it started but on very cold days it could be a struggle. Is there even a heater made for CC's?

 

[Rocko]

I have a GT2542 and live in North Eastern Connecticut.

I switched over to a 5W20 synthetic for the winter.

 

[Corm]

I have a CC 7260. I bought a tank style heater at one of my local auto parts stores, and simply plumbed it up, no big deal. It does make start ups a lot easier on the tractor when it gets cold.

Corm

EDIT - Oops, just noticed your tractor isn't water cooled. Didn't notice that initially. In that case, I can't be much help to you!

 

[Undercover]

i don't use my tractors in the winter.but on super cold days i use a 4gal(or what ever it is)propane heater to warm up my snow thrower.I also use it for the air compressor.i keep it maybe 3 feet away or so.it only takes a few min.

 

[Dave01]

I could use a space heater in a pinch, but if I was going to do it regularly would rather have a heater on the block. I suppose a dipstick heater might work but not a great solution either.

 

[Undercover]

Hi Dave01
What is a dipstick heater?

We don't get the snow here in NE Iowa like you all get.Today we got about 8".But it can get cold.Wed we hit -19F air temp.

 

[DieselPower]

Undercover - The dipstick heater is just what it's name implies. A heater that goes in place of the oil dipstick.

 

[Dave01]

-19 is cooooolllllddd. Coldest I've seen yet this year is -8 driving through Vermont.

Diesel said it, just goes in place of your dipstick. They have a rap of possibly causing some fires, I've wondered how valid it is. Anything that gets real hot in a garage near gas, rags, and vehicles is a fire hazard, you just have to be safe.

 

[LBrown59]

The best cold weather starting device for a tractor is a heated garage or other building.

 

[OhioGuy]

Hey Dave,
I've had good luck puting a charger on the battery with a 3 amp slow charge. I think it's enough to warm up the battery a bit.

I have also aimed a torpedo heater at a stubborn Cub and after 5 or 10 minutes, it started right up.

I like the dipstick heater idea, I've never tried that one.

Curt

 

[Dave01]

To be honest I'm not really worried about the tractor turning over and starting, just like the idea of putting less stress on rotating parts by having warm oil right at startup. I know it seems silly since we jump in our cars and start them at 5 below without block heaters, just for me it feels different starting a cold tractor, like I'm abusing it.

I'm probably wrong as usual!

 

[leftybob]

I used to use a dipstick heater on my Ford 1100 Diesel. It worked pretty good but that black oil was a mess. I now use a block heater that warms it up real good and I don't have to use the glow plugsto start it. Without it the diesel is very hard to start in cold weather. I tried the dipstick heater on a Ford 8-N and it was too long and shorted out and burnt it in two and part fell in the oil pan. Not a good idea.
CC-1863 Ford-1100 Ford 8-N John Deere- 345

 

[Dave01]

Sounds like I ought to avoid a dipstick heater after all. Lefty, thanks for telling your experiences with one.

This morning we got 4" of wet, slushy snow followed by rain, a real mess. It seems so warm to be in the mid 30's and 40's all of a sudden, if it got cold now we'd be encased in ice.

 

[MajMac392]

You might look at a magnetic heater that attaches to your oil pan or wherever it is convenient to attach. When I was looking for something a couple of years ago some of the dealers in this area had them.