Wrong color but a good lesson:

Discuss non-crawler related issues here (keep it sane, please)
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oldtanker
440 crawler
440 crawler
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Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:12 pm
Location: west Minnesota

Wrong color but a good lesson:

Post by oldtanker » Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:26 pm

My main tractor is a 1206 Farmall diesel (362 CI engine). I feed cows and blow snow with it the winter. It normally starts OK in cold, right down to about -10. This year it's been giving me trouble which I blamed the weather for. I live about 90 miles south east of Lavoy so you should know from his posts how cold it's been. I needed it about a week ago and had to put the charger on it set to boost. It was +10. I got it going but still had problems. So when I was done working I checked the batteries (2 6 volt in series). Tested bad. Got to thinking about it and I got this tractor about 4 1/2 years ago. Still had the batteries that were in it. Put new batteries in it and the next day at -8 it fired right up without being plugged in with only a little snort from the either assist. So lesson learned, besides making sure everything is clean tight and bright make darn sure the batteries are good.

Rick[/img]

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Tigerhaze
350 crawler
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Post by Tigerhaze » Thu Feb 27, 2014 5:14 pm

The other thing about batteries is that their ability to hold and provide a charge is greatly affected by temperature- anything you can do to keep them warmer at all from the surrounding environment (i.e. garage, shelter, blanket) will ultimately help with that issue.
(1) JD Straight 450 crawler dozer with manual outside blade; (2) JD 2010 diesel crawler loaders; (1) JD 2010 diesel dozer with hydraulic 6-way blade; (2) Model 50 backhoe attachments, misc. other construction equipment

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Stan Disbrow
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Post by Stan Disbrow » Thu Feb 27, 2014 8:09 pm

Hi,

Yep. Chemistry slows down as the temperature drops. In this case, the chemistry that moves electrons around. And, at the same time as when everything stiffens up and requires *more* of those electrons to move.

Not a good situation, for sure.

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

oldtanker
440 crawler
440 crawler
Posts: 123
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:12 pm
Location: west Minnesota

Post by oldtanker » Fri Feb 28, 2014 3:03 pm

Tigerhaze wrote:The other thing about batteries is that their ability to hold and provide a charge is greatly affected by temperature- anything you can do to keep them warmer at all from the surrounding environment (i.e. garage, shelter, blanket) will ultimately help with that issue.

LOL if I only had shelter for it! Maybe next year. A nice 30x50, 14 foot side walls, insulated and heated! Big enough to keep the tractor in and still have room to work on something else.

Rick

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Tigerhaze
350 crawler
350 crawler
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Post by Tigerhaze » Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:40 am

I am actually looking at getting one of those portable garages for my outdoor equipment- they are basically a tent but much more heavy duty. Northern Tool and Harbor Freight both have the 10 x 20s for between $200 and $300. While they won't prevent the ambient temperature from dropping they can keep the wind from making it worse, and it should be easier to warm the machinery back up with a propane heater, assuming it doesn't melt the garage material.
(1) JD Straight 450 crawler dozer with manual outside blade; (2) JD 2010 diesel crawler loaders; (1) JD 2010 diesel dozer with hydraulic 6-way blade; (2) Model 50 backhoe attachments, misc. other construction equipment

Ray III
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Post by Ray III » Sun Mar 09, 2014 6:37 am

Keeping the machine in a slightly warmer place would increase engine life as well. Engine wear increases greatly with reduced temperature due to poor oil circulation and incorrectly fitting parts from thermal contraction.

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