heating a tractor in this cold weather

Tomjim · 01-12-2016 10:24PM #1

i have a case 844. would it be true that in this cold weather the longer the tractor is heated the easier it would be to start.

how long should tractor be heated

Bullocks · 01-12-2016 10:30PM

Tomjim wrote: »

i have a case 844. would it be true that in this cold weather the longer the tractor is heated the easier it would be to start.

how long should tractor be heated

Dont know about the heating , maybe 30 seconds . Is there an excess on your tractor to make it easier start ? Pull up the stopper half way when starting until it takes off

visatorro · 01-12-2016 10:33PM

On them case's there is an element in the inlet manifold. I presume that's the same. Turn the key until the dash lights dim. I used to leave it for a minute. Very hard start otherwise.

patsy_mccabe · 01-12-2016 10:33PM

Put a hot air gun down the air intake too. The one for stripping paint. Always works a treat for me.

whelan2 · 01-12-2016 10:38PM

How long should a battery last. Battery on our digger was flat today. It has been charged a few times and is 2 years old. Oh brought it to local dealer -who we bought it off - they said we should get a replacement free of charge as its in warranty- how long is the warranty on a battery?

phelixoflaherty · 01-12-2016 10:43PM

Sounds wrote:

Would that be enough for the store to prove you bought an item from them? In a situation where you don't have a receipt any more, lost it or whatever.

If it's parked near a electrical socket you could use a hairdryer or at a push the curling tongs in the tool box, but it will take longer

visatorro · 01-12-2016 10:44PM

whelan2 wrote: »

How long should a battery last. Battery on our digger was flat today. It has been charged a few times and is 2 years old. Oh brought it to local dealer -who we bought it off - they said we should get a replacement free of charge as its in warranty- how long is the warranty on a battery?

Wouldn't imagine you'd get a warranty on a battery. If started regularly battery should be fine for years.

whelan2 · 01-12-2016 10:45PM

visatorro wrote: »

Wouldn't imagine you'd get a warranty on a battery. If started regularly battery should be fine for years.

digger in use every day . They had the date we bought it etched into it

mickdw · 01-12-2016 10:47PM

visatorro wrote: »

Wouldn't imagine you'd get a warranty on a battery. If started regularly battery should be fine for years.

Motor factors always give 2 years on car batteries anyway typically engraving the date of sale into the battery case on purchase.

zetecescort · 01-12-2016 11:12PM

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Put a hot air gun down the air intake too. The one for stripping paint. Always works a treat for me.

+1.

not sure if they are available over here but have a google for engine block heaters. plug them in overnight and they heat the coolant so its warm before starting

davidk1394 · 01-12-2016 11:14PM

When starting the digger I hold the key half way and count to 10 and starts first tip.

davidk1394 · 01-12-2016 11:17PM

whelan2 wrote: »

digger in use every day . They had the date we bought it etched into it

Have the battery in our digger since 2010. Is there a kill switch on yours ? thought the battery was gone in ours but it was actually the kill switch giving bother. Changed it and the digger is starting first tip

Username John · 01-12-2016 11:34PM

whelan2 wrote: »

How long should a battery last. Battery on our digger was flat today. It has been charged a few times and is 2 years old. Oh brought it to local dealer -who we bought it off - they said we should get a replacement free of charge as its in warranty- how long is the warranty on a battery?

Got a new battery for the car last year as it was within the warranty and it failed...I think it was 2 years warranty whelan...

larthehar · 01-12-2016 11:36PM

whelan2 wrote: »

How long should a battery last. Battery on our digger was flat today. It has been charged a few times and is 2 years old. Oh brought it to local dealer -who we bought it off - they said we should get a replacement free of charge as its in warranty- how long is the warranty on a battery?

Generally a two year warranty, the place i buy they etch date on battery and write serial number on receipt. Once i had a bad battery, they looked at the date, check the system for a docket on that date serial number matched and lashed out a new battery

MickeyShtyles · 01-12-2016 11:56PM

zetecescort wrote: »

+1.

not sure if they are available over here but have a google for engine block heaters. plug them in overnight and they heat the coolant so its warm before starting

Seen it done last week with a blowtorch.

Bass Reeves · 02-12-2016 02:18AM

MickeyShtyles wrote: »

Seen it done last week with a blowtorch.

You have to be carefull with the blowtorch, heat gun a good job. You can also replace your starter with one of the hispeed starters whch will help lazy tractors as well. I even heard of lads starting a fire under the tractor to warm it uo so you could start it.

whelan2 · 02-12-2016 07:05AM

davidk1394 wrote: »

When starting the digger I hold the key half way and count to 10 and starts first tip.

yes do the same here, we have a cut off switch on it. Wasnt used that night

guy in garage said he would test battery and get back to us.Theres also a high speed starter on the digger

3 the square · 02-12-2016 07:41AM

whelan2 wrote: »

yes do the same here, we have a cut off switch on it. Wasnt used that night guy in garage said he would test battery and get back to us.Theres also a high speed starter on the digger

out of interested what make of digger is it Whelan ??

tomwaterford · 02-12-2016 07:44AM

whelan2 wrote: »

How long should a battery last. Battery on our digger was flat today. It has been charged a few times and is 2 years old. Oh brought it to local dealer -who we bought it off - they said we should get a replacement free of charge as its in warranty- how long is the warranty on a battery?

Always told in FAS it was two years the expected lifespan....you might get warranty

tomwaterford · 02-12-2016 07:46AM

As for the OP....yes the longer you heat it....the quicker it should fire as it warms the air....which is needed when you've no spark plug

Double heat ....putting it indoors out of the extreme cold all helps...

patsy_mccabe · 02-12-2016 08:33AM

The cold weather works against you in every way. Air going into engine is colder, walls of engine are colder, battery itself is colder, oil in sump is thicker. Getting heat into any of these helps big time.

Czhornet · 02-12-2016 08:46AM

A shot of easi start will always help. Father used to let the water out of the radiator on real frosty weather and put in near boiling water into it to give it that "kick" before starting.

tomwaterford · 02-12-2016 08:50AM

Czhornet wrote: »

A shot of easi start will always help. Father used to let the water out of the radiator on real frosty weather and put in near boiling water into it to give it that "kick" before starting.

Noone anywhere should be encouraged to use easi start....unless they like replacing liners to pass cold winters days

Clean your battery connections and earth's,replace with no leads if necessary
Buy a high speed starter and if you have a kill switch replace with a higher ampage one

But stay the fcuk away from using easier start if at all possible....all above are cheaper options

White Clover · 02-12-2016 08:54AM

Czhornet wrote: »

A shot of easi start will always help. Father used to let the water out of the radiator on real frosty weather and put in near boiling water into it to give it that "kick" before starting.

I can't see how pouring boiling water into the radiator is going to make it easier to start???

patsy_mccabe · 02-12-2016 09:00AM

White Clover wrote: »

I can't see how pouring boiling water into the radiator is going to make it easier to start???

It heats the walls of the engine block, we used to do it here years ago. A real pain. You end up with no anti-freeze in the water and sure as hell, some night you'll forget to drain the block.

whelan2 · 02-12-2016 09:18AM

3 the square wrote: »

out of interested what make of digger is it Whelan ??

Jcb 3cx

blue5000 · 02-12-2016 10:48AM

Got 10 years out of a varta battery here, but to be fair the tractor isn't overly complicated with electrics, one headlight still works after 51 years.

Can a genuine varta battery still be got? A lot of places these days I hear you are just paying for the sticker.

White Clover · 02-12-2016 11:12AM

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

It heats the walls of the engine block, we used to do it here years ago. A real pain. You end up with no anti-freeze in the water and sure as hell, some night you'll forget to drain the block.

Sorry you're on about draining the block too?

Farmer · 02-12-2016 12:18PM

tomwaterford wrote: »

......
Clean your battery connections and earth's,replace with no leads if necessary
Buy a high speed starter and if you have a kill switch replace with a higher ampage one
.......

...and, on machines with a manifold heater coil, check that the heater coil is actually working. Listen for the 'whoosh' sound of the flame igniting, check that power is getting to it with a test lamp, check that the plug is drawing current

patsy_mccabe · 02-12-2016 03:01PM

White Clover wrote: »

Sorry you're on about draining the block too?

Oh ya, drain the block. That'll drain the radiator tool.

_Brian · 02-12-2016 03:46PM

Farmer wrote: »

...and, on machines with a manifold heater coil, check that the heater coil is actually working. Listen for the 'whoosh' sound of the flame igniting, check that power is getting to it with a test lamp, check that the plug is drawing current

On these.. its not a case that you should heat, and heat excessively either.. The spindle gets warped and then doesn't seal when cooled down, often the tractor will continue to draw diesel in through the non sealing spindle and leave the tractor smokey and harder on diesel..

I saw a video once of one of these set up in a vice.. quite impressive when it ignites.. I'll see if I can dig it out..

heating a tractor in this cold weather

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