Ford 3000 (110v. male) plug is for...?

[SimmonsTractor]

I just bought my used 74 Ford 3000, and have no training on proper servicing, so any tips on protecting it are appreciated....
But I want to make sure I use the 110v. male plug-in i see next to the alternator properly. Is that only for cold start ups? And also how long before a start up do i plug it in if that is the case?
Thanks folks.

 

[LD1]

I just bought my used 74 Ford 3000, and have no training on proper servicing, so any tips on protecting it are appreciated....
But I want to make sure I use the 110v. male plug-in i see next to the alternator properly. Is that only for cold start ups? And also how long before a start up do i plug it in if that is the case?
Thanks folks.

Pictures would help for sure but it is probabally a block heater to keep the coolant warm.

Yes it is mainly for cold weather operation.

If the tractor is already cold, it will take several hours for it to do any good.

Most people that have block heaters just leave em plugged in all the time when it is cold. But if you dont plan on using the tractor on a daily basis, and as lon as the antifreeze is at proper level/ratio, then you can unplug it as to not waste electric, just plan on plugging it in the day before you want to use the tractor and you will be fine.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Different location but sounds like the block heater on our 1976 MF. From my research some say they max out in about 3 hours and running them longer will not help the starting.

They tend to use 400 to 1000 watt heaters so their use is not free but their use will sure reduce the stressful start up sounds on a freezing morning.

My FIL was never free with his money but a good thing and would plug it in one hour before he was going to put out a roll of hay. I plugged it in before the storm the other day just to test it and in about 20 minutes the head temp was warming up to touch. Ours starts making a lot of noise shortly after you plug it in just like some electric hotwater heaters do.

Personally I hope I never need to use it.

 

[LD1]

Different location but sounds like the block heater on our 1976 MF. From my research some say they max out in about 3 hours and running them longer will not help the starting.

They tend to use 400 to 1000 watt heaters so their use is not free but their use will sure reduce the stressful start up sounds on a freezing morning.

My FIL was never free with his money but a good thing and would plug it in one hour before he was going to put out a roll of hay. I plugged it in before the storm the other day just to test it and in about 20 minutes the head temp was warming up to touch. Ours starts making a lot of noise shortly after you plug it in just like some electric hotwater heaters do.

Personally I hope I never need to use it.

Must be a better one than I am used to.

The one on the old JD 2040 (dont know the wattage) only goes from ~10degrees to about 30 degrees in 3-4 hours. Takes almost 8 hours just to get to 70-80

 

[Gale Hawkins]

From the sound of ours I am guessing it must be more like the 1000 watt one. The next time I think about it I will put the Kill-A-Watt meter on it.

For daily use a low watt plugged in all of the time might be better also it would not have to warm the water but once a year. :laughing:

The high wattage element is good for that once in the blue moon cold weather start.

The JD backhoe (1983) had an ether system at one point in time and no block heater. Perhaps that was due to the lack of AC on most job sites. I have not tried to start it in freezing weather yet.