RK Block Heater

snymat68 · Mar 22, 2019

Has anyone purchased the block heater for the RK24, or for any of the RK tractors for that matter?
Is it difficult on install? Wondering if oil needs drained to install it or if it fits into a separate cavity that doesn't open into block?

coastie15078 · Mar 22, 2019

Matt, I live up in Cleveland, and I have an R24, that I keep in garage. I have not had to use block heater. Just the glow plugs to warm up and I have not had any problems starting. I did add fuel additive over winter to keep from gelling up.
mike

snymat68 · Mar 22, 2019

coastie15078 said:
Matt, I live up in Cleveland, and I have an R24, that I keep in garage. I have not had to use block heater. Just the glow plugs to warm up and I have not had any problems starting. I did add fuel additive over winter to keep from gelling up.
mike

Right now it's in my garage, which never gets below 50°F. But it takes up too much space in the garage, and I'm going to be building an unheated shed out back for the attachments. So I'm thinking about making the shed big enough to store the tractor too. We sometimes get in the negatives here in the winters, which is why I'm thinking about the block heater (as well as possible oil pan, trans, and battery heaters too. The shed will have power, so that won't be an issue. And yeah, the fuel additive is a given. Just thinking of things that might make my life easier should I decide to use the RK for snow removal or anything in the winter.

coastie15078 · Mar 22, 2019

Matt,
That sounds like a plan. When I first got my Rk24, I looked into block heaters, "magnetic type" however, for some reason, I opted not to get it. If I had an out building, I think I would put a torpedo heater in there and have a cup of coffee while it thru some heat. As well, for the battery, you can get a battery maintainer. I had one on my ATV, that I kept on all winter long. The guy that can tell you for sure is RK Tractor Guy. I figure this way, If RK didn't sell the block heater, etc, you probably would not need it?....
Hope all is well back home

Professor Marvel · Mar 23, 2019

are you sure it does not install in the water jacket part of the block? That would be in your antifreeze and not your oil?

snymat68 · Mar 23, 2019

I have no idea. That's why I posted the question. There's no documentation or mention of it anywhere on the website. I didn't even know it was an option until they updated the site and I saw it in the price list.

Professor Marvel · Mar 23, 2019

on my NH the block heater is in a freeze plug looking hole in the side of my block.
a magnetic heater that attaches to the oil pan also works well without installation requirement. i used magnetic before i installed the factory one in block. a little easier to use the block type once it is installed but you have to install it. either will work fine and neither is very expensive. my magnetic one has a cord that unplugs at the heater so sometimes i left it on while i plowed snow with the cord removed. this leaves you with the possibility of knocking it off though so i suggest you remove it once you start the tractor. SEE .. do as i say say not as i do

Professor Marvel · Mar 23, 2019

as far as I know neither has a thermostat so i bought a plug adapter that has a thermostat in it that i plug the extension cord into that comes on around 40 deg. think it was about 25 bucks. I just didn't want the heater running all the time even if it was above that setpoint.

fried1765 · Mar 23, 2019

snymat68 said:
Has anyone purchased the block heater for the RK24, or for any of the RK tractors for that matter?
Is it difficult on install? Wondering if oil needs drained to install it or if it fits into a separate cavity that doesn't open into block?

I have never even heard of any heater that installs in the oil system.
Block, or hose heaters, install in the coolant system.

Trillium Farm · Mar 23, 2019

snymat68 said:
Has anyone purchased the block heater for the RK24, or for any of the RK tractors for that matter?
Is it difficult on install? Wondering if oil needs drained to install it or if it fits into a separate cavity that doesn't open into block?

No Offense meant, but if you don't know that it doesn't have anything to do with motor oil, but with antifreeze in the water-jacket I'd let a professional do the work