Snow Equipment Owning/Operating cccoldd weather staaaaarrting

[TugHillDog]

Anybody out there have any experience with magnetic block heaters for their tractor?
So far my MF1529 has started, but I'd like to make it a little easier on all of us to get it going. I could do the standard antifreeze/coolant insert heater, but saw this magnetic thing advertised on Norther Tool website and thought I'd pose the question here.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I keep a few magnetic ones on hand just in case my block heater quits. They actually work quite well. 1999 - 200X VW TDI engines just had a flexible rubber pad glued to the oil pan for an engine heater. They also worked quite well.

 

[Looking4new]

I have two of the magnetic ones I used to use on the Farmall C. They work pretty good. DO NOT touch the magnetic side after having them on for a while. You WILL get burned.

 

[tcartwri]

Portable space heater placed under the hood with a heavy blanket draped over the hood will get you through the cold snap. The heater should have a thermostat on it obviously.

 

[TugHillDog]

Thanks for the notes.
Weatherman predicts 3-5 ft of snow today, so before it comes, i just might get one of those heaters.
Tim- I could share my blanket with my Massey...that would be cool! Thanks for that suggestion.

 

[oldnslo]

Frost plug style heaters are more effective than magnetic heaters but in a pinch anything is better than nothing. If it is sitting outside in the wind covering them will help tremendously on keeping the heat in the engine.

 

[NewfieDan]

Portable space heater placed under the hood with a heavy blanket draped over the hood will get you through the cold snap. The heater should have a thermostat on it obviously.

I know what you are trying to do. But is it wise to have a "arcing and sparking device" under the hood of a vehicle where there may be potential for fire? Just a thought.

 

[tcartwri]

I know what you are trying to do. But is it wise to have a "arcing and sparking device" under the hood of a vehicle where there may be potential for fire? Just a thought.

If it was safe enough for our planes and helicopters, I'm pretty confident about our tractors.

 

[deerseeker001]

I went to start the Tractor yesterday after 2-3 weeks -25/-40 below wind chills and was turning over slowly I took the torpedo heater pointed at the oil pan for 5 minutes,it started like it was summer time.

 

[leonz]

I went to start the Tractor yesterday after 2-3 weeks -25/-40 below wind chills and was turning over slowly I took the torpedo heater pointed at the oil pan for 5 minutes,it started like it was summer time.

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It is SO, SO, much easier than a block heater to use a space heater as the heat made by a magnetic heater dissipates quickly and is of little use.

Even uncovered your mule will wake up after 20 minutes of heating with a torpedo heater .
Just decide where you want to point it and be sure its at least six feet away and turn on the switch.

I use my small generator some times because of the electrical interference it creates in the house circuits.

I use mine to heat the tractor and the truck both as it cheap insurance used to warm the oil
in the crankcase pan


Don't buy a propane one unless you can keep it it indoors to stay warm as they are finicky about being left out of doors/cold garages.
Even with a full tank of propane it did not work well unless it was left in a warm place over night-I brought it back to the retailer and bought the kerosene unit.

I can leave the kerosene unit out of doors to cool or overnight with no issues.

I can use five different fuels JP1,2,3 diesel and kerosene.
Its larger and heats everything up faster.