Cold start cure

metalbender · Feb 17, 2019

Just posting this from personal experience. My 2017 Massey 1742 had a cold start problem right from new. Dealer was out to check the usual faults, none found. Seemed to start better when the block heater wasn't plugged in to -15c, after that it was a crap shoot. Having a good snow dump, needed the tractor to go. Temp -25c, block heater on, batt charger connected, tractor inside fabric shed, out of the wind, no go. Not even a hint of fire. Out came the booster cables and another good battery from my boat. With the added cranking amps, and prob less voltage drop, fired up rather quickly. Observation, Massey calcium battery loses most of it's capacity in the cold, maybe more so than other batteries. Solution, installed a 50 watt battery blanket to keep the battery warm. This one is only 28 inches long, covers three sides of the batt, used a bit of foil insulation for the remainder. The 80 watt one is 36 inch and would wrap the entire batt. Temp of the batt is at 50 f according to my digital gauge. Keep it plugged in all the time, block heater is on a wireless remote, turn on about three or four hrs before starting. Good news is the tractor starts like it's summer.

TheMan419 · Feb 17, 2019

Ugh. Might want to get a battery designed for cold weather? Not sure what the cost would be vs the electric used for the blanket?

atsah · Feb 17, 2019

Don't know what brand battery you have in you're Massey but my Deka lasted five years in the Northern Maine cold. Replaced it this past fall with a Interstate, works just as well.

Slowpoke Slim · Feb 17, 2019

My OEM Interstate wet cell battery died dead as an anvil the first winter I had it (I bought it at the end of previous winter). First time it hit -30F, dead battery.

Yeah, no way I'm going to put up with that. Took it in to Interstate, they gave me full credit back (less than 1 year old), and I put in an Optima AGM battery. Zero problems since, even at -40 F.

atsah · Feb 17, 2019

If I needed to start anything at -30F I would keep a tender on it 24/7. At -30F I'm putting wood in the stove and drinking coffee. My battery tender on 24/7 works wonders.

WranglerX · Feb 17, 2019

I'm pretty impressed with Odyssey brand AGM batteries....

ODYSSEY Battery - Official Manufacturer's Site

Dale

metalbender · Feb 17, 2019

Original battery , only 680 cca. A batt tender won't address the loss due to cold, had the charger on overnight. The cost of running the blanket with current rates is about 0.6 cents per hr=14.4 cents for 24 hrs. Four bucks in a month is cheap insurance. I agree on the Odyssey agm, have a small one that I rotate between my track sled and riding mower, never an issue, lots of crank power. When the time comes, will look at them for sure.

oosik · Feb 17, 2019

You have a weak battery. Get a new one. I bought a new Odyssey Group 31 for my Kubota M6040 last year. OEM battery was still good at eight years but I can always use a spare battery around the place.

The Odyssey Group 31 has 1150 CCA and fires the tractor in a heart beat. I have a battery maintainer on the Odyssey all winter.

LouNY · Feb 17, 2019

In a somewhat related manner I don't know how your tractor manages the glow plugs or manifold heater.
One problem that I have seen when using a block heater on a tractor that uses temperature sensing
to control the glow plugs or manifold heater is that with a warm block they short cycle the heaters and when you
crank the engine over you are pulling cold air into the engine. i cycle my manifold heater a few times to warm intake
and my starts are a lot smoother. I have actually had the engine start and stall itself out from the cold air entering
even with the block being warm.

metalbender · Feb 17, 2019

Have had thoughts along those lines. Started better not plugged in, till it got cold enough to really kick the battery in the butt. Plugged in, the ECT sensor would be way off from the IAT, causing incorrect start parameters in the computer. Add the problem of low batt cranking ability, possible voltage drop to the proccessor, maybe the injectors don't handle the voltage drop. There wasn't any excess smoke at start up. I agree on the battery being too weak for this application. In warmer climates the system would be ok. The manufacturers only install the minimum equipment required to operate in the majority of situations. Before I retired, I worked fitting up police cars for the feds. We installed lots of battery blankets.