Magnetic Tank Heaters

[SpringHollow]

78 in LA today. Put a glove on so my coffee wouldn't burn my hand this morning.

Since this is a family rated forum, please use your imagination as to my response since it was well below zero this morning without windchill. But I will take cold weather any day versus temps in the 100's.

Ken

PS Loved the post, especially having to wear the glove because of the hot coffee.

 

[J_J]

I would recommend one of those propane or kerosene jet heater. You put a tarp over the machine and direct the warm air on to the machine, and I think you will have good results, and the cost is low.

 

[MuncyBob]

Fortunately we kept an old kerosene heater. I need at least 2 hours of it running full bore and very close to the engine, but that usually gets the PT started. This is in temps down to 25 or so, any colder and I don't even bother.

 

[MossRoad]

Do you use Ethanol gas or get the fancy stuff?

All gas here contains 10% ethanol as far as I know. I've used 87 octane for 12 years. Maybe time has taken its toll.

 

[MossRoad]

Its 1.4 degrees out right now. When I get home from work I may try to start it just for fun.

 

[cqaigy2]

Oh man, that 78F has to be hard to stand, though i shouldn't complain too much as it was 61 at the beach the other day.

 

[MossRoad]

Its 1.4 degrees out right now. When I get home from work I may try to start it just for fun.

No start. Not even a pop on ether. Gotta pull the plugs to make sure they have a spark. Too cold to do that last night.

 

[cqaigy2]

No start. Not even a pop on ether. Gotta pull the plugs to make sure they have a spark. Too cold to do that last night.

I just love working on stuff in the winter. It's the best when your laying on your back in a couple inches of slush!:thumbsup:

 

[ponytug]

I agree. Not too fond of cold gas spilled over even colder fingers.

MR: you might want to try 89 for a bit to see if it helps. Some of the air cooled engines do better on the slightly higher octane- less fouling and better temperature distributions. It is definitely in the class of YMMV. I run through Techron carb/injector cleaner ever couple of fills on the idea that I don't use my gas engines with any regularity. No idea if it really helps, but I figure it can't hurt.

That said I have lots of aging rubber on my gas engines, so I'm probably due for rebuilds there as well.

I hope it is an easy fix.

I just love working on stuff in the winter. It's the best when your laying on your back in a couple inches of slush!:thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

Since it wouldn't even pop on ether, I figure its spark related, not fuel related, first.
Once I get it to pop on ether consistently, and then if it won't run, I'll focus on the fuel issue.
We're having a heat wave.... its 3 degrees! Woo hoo!!!
:cool2:

 

[agjones]

To keep my PT 425 preheated and ready to use, I use pipe heating tape+stove tape and find that the combination of direct contact and ease of placement on the hydraulic tank reduce the need for watts and BTUs dramatically. I use one segment in the tub on the tank, lines and engine base and one wrapped through the nest of lines up front. Now, it doesn't get -20 here, or if it did the PT is the least of my concerns...but his has server well on plenty of equipment (gas and diesel) through many winters.

 

[MossRoad]

We're supposed to get sub 0 again tonight. No snow predicted though. I'm thinking of building a pre-heater like we had at the airport for pre-heating the air-cooled airplane engines. Basically, its a propane hot box with an electric blower. You stick the nozzle into the engine cowling and plug up the openings with quilts. 10-15 minutes on that and they'd fire right up. So, I'm going to look for some metal tubing (so it won't melt) and use a blow dryer for a heat source. I have some old mover's quilts, so if I get some time I'll see how that works. If I get the time. Been working 14 hours of O.T. for three months. That's like missing two shifts at home every week. Falling behind on the honey-do list.

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a picture of a home made one....
The caption says $20 for the heater, $16 for the parts. Gets the oil temp to 100 with a blanket over the engine and the cowlings stuffed with towels. Takes an hour to raise the temp he said.

 

[cqaigy2]

That looks nice and warm. You should just take your poor little PT indoors with you.

I had one of those heaters in my well house for several years. I got it for a dollar at a recycle store . The fan froze up this year and the top of the heater got a little warm, like scorched paint warm, but a good whack started the fan back up. I really need to put in the infra red emitters and get rid of the fan.

 

[MossRoad]

That looks nice and warm. You should just take your poor little PT indoors with you.

I had one of those heaters in my well house for several years. I got it for a dollar at a recycle store . The fan froze up this year and the top of the heater got a little warm, like scorched paint warm, but a good whack started the fan back up. I really need to put in the infra red emitters and get rid of the fan.

I used to take my motorcycle into my bedroom for the winter when I lived at home... in my parents house.... with no spouse.... wonder why I was single.... :confused3: