Winter cold starting trick - plowing snow

[cdahl383]

Yup, magnetic oil pan heater and a NOCO Genius 1 battery maintainer.
Sunday 1/7 storm dumped about 6-7” on us. Cub fired about as quick as I could ever remember, seemingly on less than a full rotation.

What brand/type of oil pan heater do you use?

I've looked at few online, but read some bad reviews on some of them where the plastic housing would melt, or they would quit heating after a few months. Maybe those were the cheaper, crappy kind I was looking at, not sure.

[Peter Person]

Yup, magnetic oil pan heater and a NOCO Genius 1 battery maintainer.
Sunday 1/7 storm dumped about 6-7” on us. Cub fired about as quick as I could ever remember, seemingly on less than a full rotation.

What brand/type of oil pan heater do you use?

I've looked at few online, but read some bad reviews on some of them where the plastic housing would melt, or they would quit heating after a few months. Maybe those were the cheaper, crappy kind I was looking at, not sure.

Mine looks similar to this at Tractor Supply.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/kats-engine-heaters-magnetic-heater-200w-191958?store=604&cid=Shopping-Google-Local_Feed&utm_medium=Google&utm_source=Shopping&utm_campaign=&utm_content=Local_Feed&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7av0gL_qgwMVnmZHAR0UnAPdEAQYAyABEgIyTfD_BwE



When I get home tonight, I'll check what brand and model I have. Been using it for at least 18 years. Usually plug it in mid-December and use it till mid-March.

[tst]

they also use to have a dipstick heater, do not know if they are still around, just pull your dipstick out, drop it in and plug it in

[Greenthumbfarms]

I use a magnetic oil pan heater on my Cub when I need to use it in the cold. Just plug it I a few hours before heading out with it. An hour before starting it I kick on a torpedo heater pointed at it as well.
I run 5w30 oil simply because we buy it by the barrel for our gas trucks at the farm.

Do you run 5w30 all year round, even in the summer?

The owners manual says to run SAE30 above 32 degrees and SAE10 below 32. Can't really find straight 10 weight anymore, so I would assume 10W30 or something similar would be good enough.

5w30 year round and I buy quality oil. The multi weight oils made when the cub was new were not very good, but have surpassed straight weight

[Greenthumbfarms]

Yup, magnetic oil pan heater and a NOCO Genius 1 battery maintainer.
Sunday 1/7 storm dumped about 6-7” on us. Cub fired about as quick as I could ever remember, seemingly on less than a full rotation.

What brand/type of oil pan heater do you use?

I've looked at few online, but read some bad reviews on some of them where the plastic housing would melt, or they would quit heating after a few months. Maybe those were the cheaper, crappy kind I was looking at, not sure.

Mine looks similar to this at Tractor Supply.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/kats-engine-heaters-magnetic-heater-200w-191958?store=604&cid=Shopping-Google-Local_Feed&utm_medium=Google&utm_source=Shopping&utm_campaign=&utm_content=Local_Feed&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7av0gL_qgwMVnmZHAR0UnAPdEAQYAyABEgIyTfD_BwE



When I get home tonight, I'll check what brand and model I have. Been using it for at least 18 years. Usually plug it in mid-December and use it till mid-March.

Our auto parts store in town (Federated/Fisher) carries those as well as the next size up. We have both sizes here, small for the Cib and big for the trucks and tractors

[ricky racer]

This thread reminded me of the only time I've had an issue starting my Cub in cold weather. The link below is from January 2014 and brings back a few memories.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=82044&p=656625&hilit=weather#p656491

[ShawnAgne]

As long as my battery is charged mine will start. I know people say a 12V system doesn't start easier, but for me when I switched to 12V its started a lot easier.

[Peter Person]

I have the KAT'S #1153 120V AC, 60Hz, 200W unit just like the one in the link I posted earlier.
Mine was Made in USA.

[Barebones]

Beautiful tractor! Obviously tuned very well and that's always a plus with 6-volt systems.

I've run 10w 30 synthetic since the restoration in 2001 with no issues but do not typically run it in extreme cold, although I love blasting around in the snow just for fun. Makes the tires shine. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mSRvh1xuGbY?si=D2mcyW77b3h1Nwh9&amp;start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> Don't know how to copy YouTube files very well.

I have a '54 Ford NAA 6-volt and keep it tuned and with a bit of choke it starts just fine.

For serios snow encounters, I use my Allis Chalmers with a 12-volt system, electronic ignition and 10w30 synthetic. No issues ever.

[jckengr]

I used a '47 cub for snow plowing during college where the tractor sat in the back of a parking lot. I found starting to be no problem if the manifold was reasonably warm. 3 quarts of boiling tea kettle water poured on the manifold resulted in an early start with a 6 volt battery.

[staninlowerAL]

I used a '47 cub for snow plowing during college where the tractor sat in the back of a parking lot. I found starting to be no problem if the manifold was reasonably warm. 3 quarts of boiling tea kettle water poured on the manifold resulted in an early start with a 6 volt battery.

JMHO, but I personally would be afraid to try that method. Thermal shock can do nasty things to some metals, glass, etc.

[ShakerPrairie]

I've heard of taking the engine oil inside to keep it warm.
It was drained while still warm and carried inside.
That was from back when most people, especially rural folks, did not have electricity.
And if the tractor had a battery is was kept inside too.
Building a fire under the oil pan of a car was pretty common.

[Urbish]

The user manual for a tractor from the 1910s that I have states that you must drain the water and the oil from the tractor into buckets at the end of the day when used in freezing temperatures and take them inside. I see no value in doing something like this nowadays, but it is one way to help out with cold starting.

[cdahl383]

Yeah I just did that since I didn't have any 10W30 in the garage. I don't think I want to do this all the time. Next year I'll switch to 10W30 sometime in November/December so it's ready to go when it gets really cold.

[ricky racer]

I'm not the sharpest tack in the box so I'd be afraid that if I drained the oil out of my Cub, I'd probably forget to put it back in before I use it next time...