Heating Pad for my L.

3070 Views 9 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Gravely Frank McM, Sep 3, 2013

NY112

Discussion Starter · Sep 2, 2013

I'll have to admit,I really can't stand winter time.

The only fun I'm gonna have is using my two Gravely's to remove the snow from my 4-car driveway and short city sidewalk. Overkill....I know. My neighbors just shovel or have an old,junk bottom-of-the-line snowblower that is useless.

Not me! I've got the 10A (see avatar)that is a beast and an old cast-iron carb'ed L of unknown year that will be pushing a plow that I restored.

The only problem with the L is the thought of pulling over that ice-cold engine.

I know with airplanes,there are sticky metal pads that owners stick to their oil pans,then plug in to 110V.

*** Q: Have any of you installed engine block heaters on these machines? Before I start looking,I'll bet some of you have excellent ideas.

Attached is a pic of the plow I restored. It now has a 3/8 edge. This plow was found sunk in the ground,rusted,covered with moss. Now it's almost a shame to use it:

See less See more

Save

1 - 10 of 10 Posts

Rohan

· #2 · Sep 2, 2013

Growing up in Maine my family just plugged in a 60 watt light bulb under the engine and threw a blanket on top

Save

DJ in WV

· #3 · Sep 2, 2013

:ditto:

I've used a light bulb and I've also rigged a work light to take advantage of the reflector.

See less See more

Save

jrd

· #4 · Sep 2, 2013

There were block heaters for L model gravelys. Apparently they didn't work all that well, and also had a tendency to catch fire :Stop:

I've run strap start gravelys in quite cold weather. I'd always choke it all the way, pull it once, then back the choke off to 1/2 to 2/3, then pull again. I could almost always get it to fire on the second or third pull like that.

I've also used the light bulb trick. A 60-watt bulb throws off quite a bit of heat. To enhance, the effect, ditto Dayton_king, throw a blanket over the whole works to hold the heat in.

See less See more

Save

5Tractorguy

· #5 · Sep 2, 2013

Can't say I've ever used a block heater on an L, but I would highly recommend one of these heaters to mount on one (especially if it's going to be a regular snow machine).
They are Wolverine Heaters, work excellent and won't burn the oil like the magnet ones. You can also leave them plugged in.

We had one of these heaters mounted on a 2 cylinder 33hp diesel tractor that had NO glow plugs. Kept it plugged in all winter and it would always fire right up no problem. Was well worth it...... :fing32:

See less See more

Save

cmeyers77

· #6 · Sep 2, 2013

I've used a heating blanket with good success, the problem is getting a heating blanket that does not automatically shut off. I would turn the heating blanket the night before predicted snow and wrap it around the engine, I never had issues starting in the cold. Also you could install a hotter plug, that and a well tuned engine should turn over easily in cold temps oh and a lower weight oil can help. I use SAE 40wt in the summer and, when I lived in MD, 30wt in the winter.

Sent from the MTF Free App

See less See more

Save

JohnDeere318Guy

· #7 · Sep 2, 2013

There is a pad oil pan heater that could work. You epoxy it to the bottom of the pan.
https://www.wolverineheater.com/product-p/4.5.htm

Save

CADplans

· #8 · Sep 2, 2013

How about one of those 110V plug in starter motors, crank it 'til it starts. :dunno:

Save

jrd

· #9 · Sep 2, 2013

CADplans said:
How about one of those 110V plug in starter motors, crank it 'til it starts. :dunno:

In WWII the Russians operated aircraft and other machinery in insane cold temps. It's hard to bring a fighter plane inside and heat it up when you're at the front, so they didn't bother. They had steel spinners with couplers in them, and a 50hp engine mounted on a truck, with a driveshaft to the spinner. 50 below? No problem! Just crank that sucker up until it catches!

See less See more

Save

Gravely Frank McM

· #10 · Sep 3, 2013

You can also use a small space heater ( ceramic disc, "milk-house heater", etc ), and throw an old quilt or moving-pad over the tractor.

If your L is a later model with the dipstick oil-check, I think "dip-stick heaters" are still available...

Save

1 - 10 of 10 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Heating Pad for my L.

NY112

Attachments

Rohan

DJ in WV

jrd

5Tractorguy

cmeyers77

JohnDeere318Guy

CADplans

jrd

Gravely Frank McM

Top Contributors this Month