Winter starting problems tx1500/tx1300

[5030]

Back on the farm when it got below -20 we
Would start a small fire under em
Cows were happy they got fed

That works so long as the motor isn't greasy or covered with oil. If it is, that 'little fire' can turn into a real blaze.

 

[5030]

What always worked for me when they wouldn't start was a blow dryer or a heat gun directed into the air cleaner intake. A shot of warm air always did it.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I’ve never done this so take it for what it’s worth..
Try an electric timer.. like those for your lites..
The heater might pull to many amps tho.. so you’ll have to do some research..
Nothing worse than getting up and going outside in the cold, just to come back in, in 10 minutes.,( plug in heater)

 

[Dman1981]

That works so long as the motor isn't greasy or covered with oil. If it is, that 'little fire' can turn into a real blaze.

So I should not drink next to the fo
Fire either dammit

 

[5030]

So I should not drink next to the fo
Fire either dammit

???

 

[goeduck]

What always worked for me when they wouldn't start was a blow dryer or a heat gun directed into the air cleaner intake. A shot of warm air always did it.

I recall one time in Minnesota (at -40 deg) when my rental car's fuel line froze up, I tried thawing it with a hair dryer for a minute. It didn't take long to realize that I was getting maybe +30 deg out of the hair dryer and it wasn't going to thaw anything. I had my uncle drive me to the airport and when I told the rental company where their car was, they said they had dozens of them stranded like that.

But yes, a hair dryer down the air cleaner does work up to a point. I have done it myself.

 

[Egon]

Back on the farm when it got below -20 we
Would start a small fire under em
Cows were happy they got fed

That’s been done more than once. Ash bucket of hot coals also worked.

 

[Egon]

Cold weather starting:
quick and simple is to throw a tarp over the tractor and place a 1500 watt electric heater with fan under it. That’ll warm up the whole tractor.
Then there is a block heater or in-line hose heater. Those are quite easy to install.

 

[Jimbo16720]

Can always use a torpedo heater about 5-10 feet in front for a couple minutes.

 

[yomax4]

I ended up with all new frost plugs because none of my TA 247 plugs would allow the frost plug heating element. I found a lower hose heater with built in pump. It would warm the water and open the thermostat and circulate water ( kind of ) worked good to about 20 degrees F. Below that the tarp and heater method worked. Old method my grandpa used in northern MN. Tin garbage can cover with charcoal briquettes slid under the oil pan with tarp on top. I survived all that so now I just go south for the winter.

 

[lens12]

I installed mostly freeze plug heaters in compact tractors. If they won't work I use a lower radiator hose heater.

 

[marcelPL]

So nice to read all these reactions. Makes me feel good that i am not alone in this

So here is what i did so far:

1. i bought this battery tester. Currently i have 3 batteries around my house for use with the iseki's. The youngest is less than 1 year old. I have 330 cca (2x), and one 380 cca. The battery tester shows that, even on the 380cca, after a full recharge, it gives max 200 cca load. Cannot believe that these batteries are degrading so fast. Another test i did was to leave a fully charged battery outside for a night, temperature close to freezing. In the morning it gave me a max of 100cca. So it's hardly surprising that a cold start in the winter morning is almost impossible.

2. I bought a battery booster. Nothing big or fancy, but it already showed it's purpose. One morning, again close to freezing, again the iseki would not start. Not enough cranking. So connected the booster, and there is was . That's a quick return on investment.

3. I changed the oil into a 0W30 grade. The guy selling me this was laughing, told me i might as well put in some water. Here in Poland these iseki's are a rare item. 95% or more of tractors are the local Ursus (i also have one), and they don't have these issues.

So for now i am waiting for the next -10 degrees C, and for next snow to fall. Hopefully i will finally be able to use the iseki on cleaning 50 centimes of snow.

Another thing i found is that the oil pump, also for the hydraulics, is full-time connected to the engine. Meaning that on starting, the whole circuit of hydraulics oil is also pumped around on starting. In my opinion that is a mistake in design. I have a FEL connected, and because of this i have a lot more hydraulic lines where the oil has to be pumped through when starting. Any next time on the really cold start i will try to disconnect these hydraulic lines, just pumping out the oil at the moment when i want to start it. Maybe this will also help...

About block heaters: i asked around in 2 local tractor shops, but nobody recognises this. If anybody has a link to a product that i can install on my iseki tx1300/tx1500 then please send it. Maybe i can find a way to order it locally.

Anyway many thanks for all the hints, tips and tricks. Much appreciated! Happy holidays from Poland

thx
M.

 

[marcelPL]

I installed mostly freeze plug heaters in compact tractors. If they won't work I use a lower radiator hose heater.

Any link to such a product?

Thx
M.

 

[Egon]

Any link to such a product?

Thx
M.

Block heaters:

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=block+heaters&hvadid=600571163672&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9000108&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2256853765499959281&hvtargid=kwd-313885043722&hydadcr=23163_13537656&tag=googcana-20&ref=pd_sl_2xutf0ovw2_e

If in great need a tarp over the tractor and a 1500 watt electric heater work very well.

 

[RjCorazza]

I installed zero clearance freeze plug heaters on my last 2 Kubota tractors. I am not familiar with which freeze plugs on the op's machine may have enough clearance for a regular block heater.
The type I use has a 1.5" bushing that pounds into the block, and the heating element threads into the extended bushing.

 

[wheelbuilder]

I had issues the first year I had my tractor. I found i had to get the right amount of anti-gel added to the diesel, enough of a battery, a good cycle of the glow plugs and enough throttle. If it's below zero, I have an oil pan heater I plug in overnight. Since that first year, it still kinda cold blooded, but she'll go.

 

[marcelPL]

Well I had my first test. Last night was -20 degrees Celsius (that's -4 F),0and day temperature of -15.

And it started. Basically without problem, only had to crank it for about 45 seconds before it really picked up and I could release the starter.

Here is a little movie of me being happy after finally I can use my little iseki on winter...

Cheers for all tips and advice, highly appreciated!!

Thx
M.

 

[goeduck]

Nice. I like the super low gears on mine.

 

[marcelPL]

I agree. With the FEL in front, and something connected to the back, these small tractors are still pretty big for manoeuvring in small spaces. And even though they are only 600 kilo, the power of the machine will really hurt your fence or a car whenever you touch something.

Slow is good, more slow is better. That's my motto after ripping out part of my fence because of not looking

M.

 

[goeduck]

Slow is good, more slow is better. That's my motto after ripping out part of my fence because of not looking

M.

It would help if you sat on the tractor.

I enjoy your posts; they are fun to see.