Cold Weather Starting

[PABenz]

I have the Robbins 22hp that has about 450hours on it and starts all the time, in all weather. I did have to charge or jump the battery the first few winters, but I got a trickle charger at Moss's requests and have not had an issue since. I keep that plugged in all winter. Good luck and way to go Steelers.

 

[Red Zebra]

Last I checked, about $6.00 a quart, or $24.00 a gallon.

Here in TN (at Wal-Fart) Mobil, Castrol, etc come in 5 qt jugs for about $19.00 -23.00 per, or about $4 a quart....
Pricey still..... =( .
FWIW...my 425 will not start when the temp is 30 or lower. I usually turn the torpedo heater on it for about 15 minutes while I tinker on other things in the barn and she readily turn over.

 

[washita]

same problem with 425 summer and winter lot of time troubleshooting, final conclusion was water in fuel line. of interesting note though, starts with choke only at idle only.

 

[AndrewB]

My PT since day one in 04' has ALWAYS had difficulty and struggles starting in the cold below 35-40degrees. I have gas powered engine, Robin, PT 425. Are there any heater's dipstick or magnetic other than a electric heater that I can help solve this issue. I'm tired of jump starting and worn out batteries below the listed temperatures.
Thanks for suggestions

I have a 425 with Subaru/Robins engine and have also struggled mightily with cold weather starting. Being in Iowa, it's a fact of life that the tractor must start if it's going to be of use. We've been down to 0 to -20 F for many days, both this year and last. My tractor is in an unheated shed.

Magnetic heaters won't work because the engine block is aluminum. Heated adhesive pads probably won't work (at least I was advised against it) because the aluminum fins don't offer much surface area.

I took the suggestions of many folks on this forum last year and had 100% success this winter by doing the following:
(1) Cover engine compartment with a thick blanket, excepting the rear grill where
(2) a 1500 W electric space heater blows into the engine compartment for at least 2 hours.
(3) 600 W magnetic oil pan heater under hydraulic fluid reservoir for several hours.

The obvious drawback of this is that the space heater is a potential fire hazard. I bought one at the farm and home store for $18 - it's housing doesn't get warm to the touch anywhere. Also, I've been very careful about how it's set-up, what it sits on, keeping it from falling over, making sure it doesn't touch the blanket, etc. After being extremely cautious at first, I've gotten to the point where I put them on a timer at night and MAGIC, it's ready to go in the morning!

Again, I've had no problems at all. Hopefully it will help you.

 

[ldabe]

It has been awhile since I last posted on the Robin Russian Roulette.

A few weeks back I changed the spark plugs (one grayish, one blackish), changed the inline gas filter, cleaned the carborator (checked for debris and blew out with air), cleaned battery posts and terminals, and charged battery.

Started fine. Used once after this to clear some snow, and to move some things around, about 40 minutes of work.

Went out 3 days ago to move a couple trailers around, move some dirt to and stone to driveway, and low and behold the "Robin Russian Roulette" kicked in again! When the engine plays this game, you never know when it is going to "get the bullet" and die.

The sputter started and within 20 seconds the engine died.

Cranked back up after a few seconds, then I had to continue to play with the choke to get it back to the garage. It died twice on the way back, but was able to finally get it parked inside.

I have not had time yet to check the condition of the spark plugs, or anything else for that matter. Hope to get to it this weekend.

Anyone else have this problem, or have suggestions, pleeeeeeeeese, feel free to jump in.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Phils]

"playing with the choke" indicates to me that the fuel flow is insufficient.

You've changed the filter. It's not hot enought for vaporlock. I'll put my wager on a piece of krp in the carb, as I've been there done that.

The good thing is that the carb is easily removed and disassembled. Clean/blow out the passages and reassemble.

Phil

 

[SnowRidge]

"playing with the choke" indicates to me that the fuel flow is insufficient.

You've changed the filter. It's not hot enought for vaporlock. I'll put my wager on a piece of krp in the carb, as I've been there done that.

The good thing is that the carb is easily removed and disassembled. Clean/blow out the passages and reassemble.

Phil

Do the same thing to the fitting on the bottom of the tank. These are known to crud up and give the same symptoms. I had to run a piece of wire up mine to clear it.

It's probably a whole lot easier to clear the fitting than it is to work on the carb. I know it is on a Kohler. That is where I would go first, unless I knew for certain that it was clear. It just takes a small bit debris to hose things up.

Good luck with it.

 

[BobRip]

Do the same thing to the fitting on the bottom of the tank. These are known to crud up and give the same symptoms. I had to run a piece of wire up mine to clear it.

It's probably a whole lot easier to clear the fitting than it is to work on the carb. I know it is on a Kohler. That is where I would go first, unless I knew for certain that it was clear. It just takes a small bit debris to hose things up.

Good luck with it.

I had the same think on mine.

 

[ldabe]

Thanks for the quick suggestions.

I will try and get to it this weekend, and report back on how it runs.

Thanks again.

 

[ldabe]

Upon removing the plastic elbow at the bottom of the gas tank to check for debris, I removed what looked like a small piece of "pipe tape", about 3/16 long.

But also there is a perfectly fitted round piece of ??? (tin foil) with an image of a woman with a pitcher over her head pouring something out, and the words "GiaComini" and "Made in Italy" down inside the plastic elbow fitting.

Is this suppose to be in there?

What is it?

When I took a Q-tip to clean out the inside of the plastic elbow fitting, along with the "pipe tape", this round "tin foil" ??? also came out.

Anyone know what I am talking about?

 

[SnowRidge]

Upon removing the plastic elbow at the bottom of the gas tank to check for debris, I removed what looked like a small piece of "pipe tape", about 3/16 long.

But also there is a perfectly fitted round piece of ??? (tin foil) with an image of a woman with a pitcher over her head pouring something out, and the words "GiaComini" and "Made in Italy" down inside the plastic elbow fitting.

Is this suppose to be in there?

What is it?

When I took a Q-tip to clean out the inside of the plastic elbow fitting, along with the "pipe tape", this round "tin foil" ??? also came out.

Anyone know what I am talking about?

You mean these folks.

I suspect they made the elbow and/or the tank. Power-Trac seems to have a thing for Italian parts.

I take it the engine now runs properly?

 

[ldabe]

No. The engine is not running properly yet. I did not reinstall yet, I didn't know if I should put that little piece of "tin foil" ??? back into the elbow fitting.

I don't know why it would be there, but it is a perfect circle that fits right down into the elbow just before the 90 degree turn.

Has anybody seen what I am talking about?

 

[SnowRidge]

No. The engine is not running properly yet. I did not reinstall yet, I didn't know if I should put that little piece of "tin foil" ??? back into the elbow fitting.

I don't know why it would be there, but it is a perfect circle that fits right down into the elbow just before the 90 degree turn.

Has anybody seen what I am talking about?

I haven't.

I didn't find anything like that in the elbow on my tank. However, all I did was run a piece of wire up it from the outside. I really didn't look down into it, since it was still in the tank, which had a bunch of gas in it.

 

[ldabe]

SnowRidge,

I took my tank completely off, and un-screwed the elbow from the bottom, completely removing it.

Now that I think about, when I screw it back in I guess I should use some plumbers tape on the threads. What do you think?

Also, if yours did have that ??? "tin foil" ??? circle inside yours, when you pushed the wire up through, it would have dislodged it into the tank, or punctured a hole in it.

Myself, I think it was from the packaging that the elbow came in, and mistakenly was dropped into the tank. But, it is weird, because it did fit perfectly inside the 90 degree elbow.

I am going to give PT a call Monday just to make sure.

 

[Gravy]

Abe,

I'm ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that there should be nothing obstructing that elbow, even if the picture is of Gina Lollobrigida. If you use teflon tape, take extreme care to ensure that none of it gets inside the elbow. Also be very careful not to overtighten the fitting. The threads in plastic tank aren't very tough. Just a hair past finger tight should be good. It's better to have to tighten it a bit more later than to strip the threads. I have personal experience here - do as I say, not as I did!

It's possible that some of that junk has made it to your carburetor. One of the nice things about the Robin engine is that it's relatively easy to fix that. I can walk you through it if needed.

Once you get the crud out, I expect the machine will run much better and you'll remember why you loved it.

Until the weather gets hot and the ethanol in the gas screws everything up...

Cheers,

Gravy

 

[SnowRidge]

You need some sort of gasoline proof sealant on those threads. As Gravy said, don't let any get into the tank or elbow.

 

[ponytug]

Fuel lines are supposed to be spotlessly clean. Don't fall for the Italian spam. Remember, all of the gunk will have to go through a carbruetor jet before going into your nice clean engine cylinder.

If in doubt, clean it out!

PT ships three, (3), successive fuel filters on the 1445s; a coarse mesh in the tank, a small inline pleated filter, and a major diesel filter just before the engine. Since the excess fuel is dumped back in the tank, it all gets filtered pretty quickly.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ldabe]

I called PT today and talked to Terry about the piece of ???tin foil??? from Giacomini (made in Italy) that was in the gas tank elbow,
and as Gravy said, Terry reiterated there should be absolutely nothing in that fitting.

I asked Terry if I should use plumbers tape on the re-install, he said to use pvc glue. I asked if I would have
problems if I need to remove it, but he stated no. So I wanted to log this here to remind me in case I do.

I should have it back together today, and see how it runs.

 

[SnowRidge]

I asked Terry if I should use plumbers tape on the re-install, he said to use pvc glue. I asked if I would have
problems if I need to remove it, but he stated no.

I would have thought RectorSeal #5 or its equivalent.

 

[Gravy]

I'm surprised by the PVC cement recommendation. The tank and elbow are probably polyethylene, certainly not PVC. The PVC cement will not bond the polyethylene, but I suppose it might act as a thread sealant.