PowerTrac Cold Weather Heaters....

[Frank Sorbello]

It was 20 degrees in the barn this morning. I turned on the heater last night. The hydraulic tank was warm to the touch. Choke cable was frozen. I tried to start for about 10 seconds, then gave a quick shot of starting fluid. It fired instantly. I whole heartedly believe if the choke wasn't frozen she would have started with out the aid of starting fluid. What causes the cable to freeze? For those of you that are on the fence about the heater, I love it.

 

[MossRoad]

Choke cable could get melted snow in one end or the other, or moisture some other way, and then it freezes. Or it could be rust in the cable and not moisture at all. Do you ever lubricate the cable?

I know my starter key switch freezes a couple times a year, always after plowing in blowing snow. Bad location for that switch to be on a horizontal surface like that.

 

[SpringHollow]

In my case, it was moisture in the cable. When it warms up from running, it would then move. I got one of those throttle etc cable lubers (clamps onto the end and shoots some lube down the cable). That has helped.

Ken

 

[PTWannaHave]

On lawn tractor choke/throttle/snowblower chute control cables, I've had good long-term results by taking the cable off, letting it dry thoroughly, make sure it move relatively freely, and then fille the cable housing with 3-in-1 generic thin oil. (Fill slowly, a couple drops at a time, when working on something else in the shop.)

When the oil starts coming out the other end of the hanging cable, it's ready to reinstall on the machine. My snowblower cables (2, for chute deflection) have been working great for 7yrs. now...

 

[cqaigy2]

In my case, it was moisture in the cable. When it warms up from running, it would then move. I got one of those throttle etc cable lubers (clamps onto the end and shoots some lube down the cable). That has helped.

Ken

I've used those clamp type cable lubricators with good results, when living in a colder climates. I'd imagine it helps to push out moisture too.

 

[ponytug]

X2. I push WD40 down it first to flush the water out, and then follow it with a dry Teflon lubricant.

All the best,

Peter

I've used those clamp type cable lubricators with good results, when living in a colder climates. I'd imagine it helps to push out moisture too.

 

[RegL]

When I shut down I try to remember to leave the choke and throttle in the position they need to be in to start the engine next time. On the portable generator I also leave the on/off switch to on. You would not believe how long I've pulled on that darn thing during a power outage because I forgot to turn the switch on.

 

[MossRoad]

I left the key on my PT425 on one time.... added 50 hours to the meter and drained the battery. :laughing:

I hear you about pulling some stupid motor on some stupid piece of equipment only to find the stupid switch in the off position. Yeah, the equipment is stupid... not me. :dance1:

 

[ernemats]

I sure would like to have one of those heaters to try now it has been below zero a lot of nights and they are predicting it to be below zero the next several nights. I tried to start my 422 the other day without success, it would turn over slowly but not start, put the battery on charge for a while and a magnetic heater on the hydraulic tank overnight , still would not start and it is too cold to mess with it any further, so I fired up my Agco Allis tractor to plow some snow and get some more firewood. Has anyone that has the new heaters tried them in real cold conditions and if they work how many watt are they? Frank do you think it is necessary for 2 KAT heaters or would one do

 

[Frank Sorbello]

That silicone heater doesn't look like much, but let me tell you its the cats ***. All you need is one of those heaters. It is a 250 watt heater. I was using 2 KAT 400 watt magnetic heaters, with battery charger, with a make shift tent, with a propane forced air heater under the tent just to get it started.
If you buy one, follow directions for installation. Make sure you prep the area you are sticking it on. Use RTV silicone around the edges. you will wish you had it years ago.

 

[ernemats]

Does it have to be put on like that I don't know that I would want it on there all the time

 

[Frank Sorbello]

The pad is in the inside of the tub. Not sure why you wouldn't want it on there all the time if it going start your machine with out all the hassle in the winter.

 

[MossRoad]

Does it have to be put on like that I don't know that I would want it on there all the time

We used to install airplane engine heaters very similar to this 25+ years ago. They stayed on all the time. Inside the tub would be safe and sound... and convenient.

 

[MossRoad]

The Kohler started right up at 4F this morning with no extra assistance. One turn of the key. 1/2 throttle. No choke. Start cranking until it coughed then increased choke till it popped. Took about 6-7 seconds of cranking. Reduced choke until it sputtered then increased choke to smooth idle. Its got to be something with the compression VS starter torque VS available spark VS thickness of oil VS temperature VS battery strength VS battery cable size VS....... Lots of variables. Maybe the simpler solution is the glue on heater and be done with it.

 

[ponytug]

Yes, MR, you have nailed the essence of it: Bottom line, lots to play with.
Starter torque(&power) is related to the starter, the amps, which makes it dependent upon the battery, battery cables, and connections.
Engine speed is related to the starter speed (as a result of the torque), the viscosity of the hydraulic oil, and the viscosity of the engine oil, both of which is dependent on temperature.
Ignition is dependent on coil voltage and current (i.e. power) which is dependent on spark plug gap, and cleanliness, and ignition wire integrity and connections, engine speed, which drives compression, which drives temperature, which warms the spark plug which reduces resistance to ignition...
Oh yeah, and all of that fuel/air stuff including mixing, and air temperature that are necessary to actually ignite.

I'm always amazed that engines run. Or maybe that my engines run.

Now all one has to do is decide what you want to spend money on...
I've certainly "fixed" a few engines by using better coils and ignition systems, even without changing wires. I've had other ones that were very, very particular on the ignition wire quality for smooth running, and ones that basically required a lighter to preheat the spark plugs to get the car to start. YMMV.

I can't believe the snow in the northeast;
What Record-Breaking Snow Really Looks Like - The Atlantic

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

WOW! PT425 won't do 7'.... 6' would be no problem though... :laughing:

 

[ernemats]

I have had to change the coils on my 422, and I know the pad does not take up a lot of room but I needed every bit of room there is in the tub to change the coils. My 422 has pump in front of motor

 

[SpringHollow]

I have piles well over 12' high before i push the top back. But that is getting harder to do. Some of the piles are now 20' or more deep at the base and my PT won't push those back. I have to scrape along the face of the pile pushing up as i go then lower the snow plow to be more horizontal while still maintaining pressure against the pile. Then I can usually push the top over.

Having a plow on the loader arms is a wonderful thing. I plow some of the neighbors and can push their berms and piles back. The PU's that are plowing are not able to push the snow over the berms that form so those driveways are getting narrow.

Ken

 

[Bigger mike]

Switched out oils to 0-w-50 synthetics . And put on the heater that terry told me to get, and still no go on easy starts. Still an hour on the turbo heater and a jump helps, it's better, but not close to good. As you gents have stated before- pt needs to get a conversion kit to go back to the kholers. I have 2 - 2425's with the kholers and have better starting by far, and a third with the suburb junk, nothing but a money pit when it's cold out. Let's all get on there case and bug them into selling this conversion kit and would gladly trade our first born for one. Northern usa needs our old engines back, that start in the cold.

 

[Frank Sorbello]

Mike, not sure an hour is quite long enough. I know what you mean about the Kohlers. I told Terry I would buy a new 425 today if it had a kohler in it. My questions is why will the kohlers start when the subarus won't under the same conditions. Do your kohlers have heat issues too?