Engine block heater for a 520?

[EchoBravo 11]

Hello, I hope everyone is doing well. Up here in Northern Minnesota we have gotten a lot of snow recently and the temperatures have dropped drastically.  Due to limited space in my garage I keep my 520 with single stage snow blower outside.  I was hoping this wouldn't be an issue, but I am having a VERY hard time getting it started.  Does anyone use a block heater on their 520?  What kind would work best, magnetic, oil dipstick, etc?  Where would you stick a magnetic heater?  

 

Thanks for your help.  

 

 

[Jeff-C175 7,204]

Safety aside, I sometimes use one of these under the engine with a 100W incandescent and throw a welding blanket over the hood for a few hours before I need to use the machine.

But it's few and far between here in NJ that this is needed...  

Probably not enough for Minnesota winters though.

And incandescents seem to be in shorter supply these days.  Maybe infra-red lamp?

 

Oh... wait... you said outdoors... never mind... poor horsey.  

 

 

I've also parked space heaters next to the machines to warm them up.

 

Most of the dipstick heaters that I've seen need to be in 4-5" of oil and I don't think our machines have that depth of oil in them.  If they're not submerged to that depth they'll burn out because the element will overheat.

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by Jeff-C175

[roadapples 6,983]

If you're using 10w30 oil you might be just as well off with an in line primer bulb...

[ebinmaine 70,949]

1 hour ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Most of the dipstick heaters that I've seen need to be in 4-5" of oil and I don't think our machines have that depth of oil in them.  If they're not submerged to that depth they'll burn out because the element will overheat

 

Agreed. I wouldn't recommend one.  

 

2 hours ago, EchoBravo said:

outside.  I was hoping this wouldn't be an issue, but I am having a VERY hard time getting it started

 

In what way?

 

 

There are battery blankets that keep the battery warm. Not sure if one would fit that tractor. 

 

 

I'd advise getting an old very heavy blanket quilt bedspread or whatever and putting it over the whole machine and a tarp or all that. 

That would help keep a little of whatever heat you can find where it belongs.  

 

[kpinnc 13,860]

32 minutes ago, roadapples said:

If you're using 10w30 oil you might be just as well off with an in line primer bulb...

 

I was gonna suggest the same. I must admit that I have zero experience in your kind of cold- but that being said the most common thing that I've seen with any WH that has the fuel tank under the seat is slow starts due to fuel draining back out of the bowl. My 520-H starts on the first turn after 2-3 squeezes on the primer bulb, or otherwise will kill the battery dead if I don't use it. 

[Jeff-C175 7,204]

12 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

battery blankets

 

Batteries lose something like at least 50% of their capacity when they get really cold.  Keep a smart charger on the battery, and simply keeping IT warm may solve your problem.

 

Quote

Temperature extremes, in general, are not favorable to batteries. Lead-acid batteries drop in capacity by about 20 percent in freezing weather, and down to about 50 percent in temperatures that reach about -22 degrees Fahrenheit.

As a result, you may find your car battery giving out on any given winter morning. This is due to reduced capacity and increased draw from starter motors and accessories. This is because starter motors require a tremendous amount of amperage to get going: knocking out the capacity of even the newest batteries.

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by Jeff-C175

[Maxwell-8 4,366]

Grab some wood and build a fire under the tractor, right beneath the oilpan 

 

...Just kidding 

Logger used to do that with their DIESELS

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 27,657]

Primer bulb as mentioned above… huge difference… cheap fix…

[EchoBravo 11]

Thanks for the replies everyone.  Thats a good idea about the primer, not using my outboard in the winter, so I have one handy.  After I made the post I thought about and decided I should keep the battery inside on a tender until I need it, so it has plenty of juice.  Going to warm up this weekend so hopefully I can get it going to clear what I was able to plowed.

[peter lena 9,101]

@kpinnc , noted your  fuel drain back issue , why not simply install a fuel check valve , in vertical position ,  close to carb? valves are aluminum , have them in my 3 horses , instant starts , they work , INSTALL THIS VERTICALLY ,  cheap , worth a try , look on line , pete

[peter lena 9,101]

@kpinnc https://www.amazon.com/Check-Valve-Diesel-Fuel-Flow/dp/B0084NNCK0  , this is easy , I  also use the spring fuel line clamps , use LINEMANS PLYERS , SQUARE EDGE  plyers to install them , search around on related sites .  they come in 1/4  - 5/16  - 3/8 , INSTALL VERTICALLY , THEY WORK , you might also try a  @Jeff-C175  light shield with the old type bulb , I  also use that , do you have a battery tender plug in hooked up to your battery ?  also have that set up on my 3 horses , this is not difficult , pete

[squonk 42,722]

[ebinmaine 70,949]

59 minutes ago, squonk said:

 

Mike, you stick that to the bottom of the engine block?

 

 

[squonk 42,722]

Pan, side where ever you can stick it. I use them to keep the hydraulic oil warm on my Power King

[pfrederi 18,374]

I put one on the night before if it is going to be really cold and i will need tractor in the morning...

[ebinmaine 70,949]

16 minutes ago, squonk said:

Pan, side where ever you can stick it. I use them to keep the hydraulic oil warm on my Power King

 

14 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

I put one on the night before if it is going to be really cold and i will need tractor in the morning...

 

Is there a place to stick one on a Sundstrand hydro?

[kpinnc 13,860]

2 hours ago, peter lena said:

 , noted your  fuel drain back issue , why not simply install a fuel check valve , in vertical position ,  close to carb? valves are aluminum , have them in my 3 horses , instant starts , they work , INSTALL THIS VERTICALLY ,  cheap , worth a try , look on line , pete

 

Thanks Pete! I'll check it out.

[pfrederi 18,374]

10 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

Is there a place to stick one on a Sundstrand hydro?

  I put it on the side of the engine oil pan.    I run ATF in my Sunny's Cold doesn't seem to slow them down a whole lot.  The D200 sunny has 10w-30 her 3 pt lift is pretty slow in the real cold....

[squonk 42,722]

22 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

Is there a place to stick one on a Sundstrand hydro?

I stick one on the bottom of the trans housing where the drain plug is.

[AMC RULES 37,149]

Is it plugged in all the time Mike, or how long before you put it into use?  

[EchoBravo 11]

It was a nice balmy 26f out Saturday and I left the battery charging on the kitchen table over night, so I got it to fire right up.  New process will be to keep the battery inside and install when when needed.  Not ideal, but it will be good motivation to get my garage cleared out this summer.  Thanks for all the replies, and stay warm out there!

[Jeff-C175 7,204]

11 minutes ago, EchoBravo said:

battery charging on the kitchen table over night

 

Wait... lemmee guess... Bachelor ?

 

[Elkskin's mower junkyard 1,117]

5 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Wait... lemmee guess... Bachelor ?

 

lol now thats funny