All these threads about block heaters...

[Diydave]

Just picked up another universal model, just slide under the oil pan, no plumbing, no 'lectric, paid $6 for one very similar to this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Cam...549442?hash=item3d086fcbc2:g:95gAAOSw~bFWQB3c

A properly heated tractor generally has no less than 4 barn cats, on the hood...

 

[forceten]

Just picked up another universal model, just slide under the oil pan, no plumbing, no 'lectric, paid $6 for one very similar to this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Cam...549442?hash=item3d086fcbc2:g:95gAAOSw~bFWQB3c

A properly heated tractor generally has no less than 4 barn cats, on the hood...

That fits under your tractor?



I think I paid $65 for my block heater 0 took like 15-20 mins to install. Not too bad

 

[D2Cat]

DiyDave, I've got two of those setting in my shop if you need more!! Haven't used them in YEARS.

 

[Diydave]

That fits under your tractor?



I think I paid $65 for my block heater 0 took like 15-20 mins to install. Not too bad

Yep, slides right under the oil pan. Half hour or 45 mins later, coolant is at about 100 degrees, so is oil, battery is 70 degrees, or so... I like them cause I have tractors sitting in 4 different barns, and 3 don't have 'lectric innem...

 

[BAP]

Probably works OK where it only gets sort of cold, but I wouldn't want to rely on it at 25 below zero.

 

[Diydave]

Probably works OK where it only gets sort of cold, but I wouldn't want to rely on it at 25 below zero.

I wouldn't want to live, where it gets that cold... But since you mention it, back in the old days of automobiling in the great white north, that's what was used...

Please note the address of the bunsen company, in the pics on fleabay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vin...695453?hash=item33ab81149d:g:0xkAAOSwv0tVXM4m

 

[Tooljunkie]

I remember draining coolant and bringing battery into house. Car would start up to - 20 but not below that.
Had no money to buy a block heater, no warm place to install it. Did what was necessary to guarantee my ride to work.

Think i have one of those heaters too. Wouldnt want to put it under a drippy tractor.
I use a magnetic heater, 450 watts starts kubota and forklift. Actually kubota lives in a garage i can heat with little effort.

Tiger torch and a stove pipe. Thats the heavy duty in a pinch heater.
BBQ briquettes and a garbage can lid will work too.

There are all kinds of bush inspired heaters. Quick connectors and two long heater hoses. Connect to a warm running vehicle. Propane heaters with hose connections.
Brings back memories,going in to the loggers landing early in the day.
"Nothin like the smell of ether in the morning"

 

[Diydave]

we used to use a perfection 500 kerosene heater, on the AC d-series, like the 14's and 15's, had to shim it up, a bit, on the d-19...

I've seen guys use charcoal starting cans, to heat up tractors. I like the radiant heaters, cause there is no open flame, just a glow. I wouldn't put it under a drippy one, just using common sense. I put an IR thermometer on one tractor, once, to figure out what time it takes to get the pre-heating done. Never leave it unattended, just for safety's sake...

 

[forceten]

We have block heaters on all our bigger trucks, but last winter it just stayed -10 with the windchill for days on end! We have two big torpedo heaters to help out. Put them into the engine compartments for 10-15 mins to help out.

Lots of alcohol in the brake lines too (air) and howes in the diesel for the engine. Kept the batteries on trickle chargers. But man everything on the trucks kept freezing up during the day

When we rolled down the highway - windchill under the truck must have been -50 at 50-60 mph. Our pumps and lines under the trucks would gel up. Normally we pump 80 gallons a min. Trucks slowed down to 10 gallons a min. Had to add gallons and gallons of str2 treatment to ungel the lines.


Makes me want to move to florida or arizona some days. Except in august when I see them at 115 degrees!

 

[socapots]

That fits under your tractor?



I think I paid $65 for my block heater 0 took like 15-20 mins to install. Not too bad

this is the route i plan to take. Hope to get it done before it gets to cold.
Worst case I'll scrape up a magnetic one somewhere.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I recall a small fleet of trucks coming up here from way south. All had big tanks for long range travel. Stopped trucks in hotel parking lot for the night. Temp took a serious dive overnight,6 trucks that wouldnt start. They had to find a shop that could get them inside, thawed and running. They were here a week. They have been back since, winter fuel and keep them running if weather is bad.

Starting anything in the dead of winter is no fun if its not set up for the cold.

 

[Diydave]

We have block heaters on all our bigger trucks, but last winter it just stayed -10 with the windchill for days on end! We have two big torpedo heaters to help out. Put them into the engine compartments for 10-15 mins to help out.

Lots of alcohol in the brake lines too (air) and howes in the diesel for the engine. Kept the batteries on trickle chargers. But man everything on the trucks kept freezing up during the day

When we rolled down the highway - windchill under the truck must have been -50 at 50-60 mph. Our pumps and lines under the trucks would gel up. Normally we pump 80 gallons a min. Trucks slowed down to 10 gallons a min. Had to add gallons and gallons of str2 treatment to ungel the lines.


Makes me want to move to florida or arizona some days. Except in august when I see them at 115 degrees!

A motor feels no wind chill. Look it up, wind chill is the feels like temp, invented by weathermen, to help you rationalize your way out of stepping outside, on a windy day...

 

[CountryBumkin]

There are also several "Universal" type heaters available.

- Dipstick oil heaters
- Magnetic (stick on) under-oil-pan heaters
-In-line installed in lower radiator hose
-In-line installed in heater hose (or by-pass hose)

For example, see http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/search/Tractor heater

 

[sheepfarmer]

A motor feels no wind chill. Look it up, wind chill is the feels like temp, invented by weathermen, to help you rationalize your way out of stepping outside, on a windy day...

Maybe not the right word, but it seems like the airflow past the engine would carry away any heat it generated, and that would ordinarily heat air in the engine compartment and any adjacent fuel lines.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Wind chilll will suck the heat out of an engine rapidly.shut off a vehicle with the nose into a -35 with a 15 mile/hour wind it doesent take long.

The old hino i used to drive needed to be tarped up when it was cold and windy. The heater couldnt do enough without a windbreak.

35 years of starting vehicles when they dont want to. i know -25 to -27 is where i have seen the most battery failures. Extension cords for heaters get uncooperative, cheap cords break in extreme cold.

Flat tires, blown power steering and trans cooler lines,slushed up coolant. You name it.been there done that.

Heating up the bernzomatic in a sink full of hot water tot get enough burn time to warm up an oil pan. All we had to get engine started. Not to mention latying in snow to hold it in place