Block Heater Install

[coachgeo]

the thermostatic controlled outlet is great idea. Only 10 bucks at amazon.... but you don't use the tractor EVERY time it gets cold... what you need is a remote one... and with today's technology.. why not make it smart.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/263431959762

you can get indoor ones little cheaper.

now realize I should of got two.... but then again... both my block heaters (Tractor and Truck) won't need to be remotely turned on at same time... can't drive both at once. Course now I must park them next to each other.

. controlled by Alexa (who's that... a Garden Gnome?)
. controlled by Smart Phone (does that mean phones of the past were dumb, come on.... you saying a dial up phone call across the ocean back in the day was invented by a dumb person )
. Controlled by Wi-Fi (so is that a new category of Gnome.. I heard of bi; so what is fi? and wi are they fi or bi and not straight so so )

apparently one can call from anywhere via smart phone to turn on one or both of the 2 outlets, or via Alexa... where you have to tell her to activate the unit ..... and which plug to switch on. She must be dumber than a phone.

 

[torch]

however my test water bottle has never froze up....

I think block heaters are of more value in sub-freezing temperatures. Not likely to have any fuel gelling issues when even water won't freeze either.

 

[coachgeo]

I think block heaters are of more value in sub-freezing temperatures. Not likely to have any fuel gelling issues when even water won't freeze either.

Massively disagree. It is NOT about keeping block from freezing, not to help with fuel gelling at all... that is what antifreeze and/or fuel heater or anti-gel additives is for.... Block heater is for reducing strain on cold engine when STARTING. Cold engines (35F? and below); especially any engine that takes a little time to start (old feller esp.).... all that fuel that ends up NOT ignited cause she did not start and/or starts ruff with not complete combustion, drains down the cylinder walls.... and cokes up the rings and/or dilutes the lubrication oil below as it works into the sump.

> Warm engine starting makes for a much longer life of the engine.... (quicker start / less coking)
> for older engines it gets few more years of life out of them... particularly when you need to start in cold (moving snow for example)

BONUS- If you have a heater in your tractor this allows the cab to heat up and windshield to defrost before heading out to plow snow orr? .

 

[03marauderman]

I recall seeing a Messicks youtube where he goes from brand new tractor to tractor covered with snow starting them up , without a hitch...No battery tenders, no engine heaters, all but one started with no issue.....Again I wasn't disputing the benefit of the block heater and was talked out of it by the salesman & mechanic....Years ago I had a diesel VW rabbit and on the coldest day I turned the key waited for the glow plug light to go off and started it...These was no battery tender, no block heater, no putting fuel through a Mr Funnel and got diesel where ever I could find it, and that was 25 years ago....Just not getting the complications of starting this new Kubota with timed cycling, two sets of electric cords one for the tender, the other for the block heater and listening to the started grinding away.....I've yet to figure out why there's a glow plug light that serves no purpose??? I thought that was the indicator that told you when to start the engine????

 

[sheepfarmer]

Marauderman, I have reread your post, and I think everyone will agree that a warm engine will start easier than a cold one. But your new tractor should start without a block heater at your present temperatures. The question is why not. What weight oil is in it? How thick is thick? Maybe they put the wrong oil in it. What are the directions in the manual for cold temp starting? If your dealer is not helping you, start at the beginning with trouble shooting it.

 

[sheepfarmer]

OOk I found a copy of the bx23s owners manual online, and the starting procedure, once you get past the specific settings for the pto controls, is like my B2650, which is different from my L3560. The L starts like my truck and like your old VW, you turn the key to on and watch the dash waiting for a glow plug light to go out and then crank.

Your bx and my B2650 work differently. Set throttle at about half, at least a bit above dead idle. You turn the key 1 click clockwise and the self checker lights come up on the panel. Then you turn the key further to the right against a spring and a preheat glow plug light will come on. You estimate 5 to 10 seconds depending on how cold it is, then turn the key further to start cranking. Mine has no block heater and starts like a champ with this procedure. In order not to burn out starter, if it doesn't start after 10 sec of cranking, let it rest for 30 sec and try again.

So in this case the purpose of the glow plug light is to tell you that the glow plugs are being activated.

 

[torch]

Massively disagree. It is NOT about keeping block from freezing, not to help with fuel gelling at all... that is what antifreeze and/or fuel heater or anti-gel additives is for.... Block heater is for reducing strain on cold engine when STARTING. Cold engines (35F? and below)

I don't disagree with that statement. For the record, I have a block heater and I do use it when the temperature drops below freezing.

But I do disagree with earlier suggestions in this thread that his hard starting issue is related to the engine temperature and/or summer grade diesel gelling. Water freezes at 32°F / 0°C and the cold filter plug point of even straight #2 diesel is several degrees below that, so if his water bottle isn't frozen, I don't think low temperature is responsible for his starting issue.

 

[Cfrazer]

Bought new BX 23S in September...it now has 5.3 hours....I'm a big fan of engine block heaters, even though I keep my tractor stored indoors, in an unheated garage, however my test water bottle has never froze up....Now I have a 2 part concern...1 Hard starting, and secondly thick oil in the crankcase. I went back to the dealer spoke to the salesman & field tech....Both recommended that a block heater is of little value when it comes to hard starting.... Then there was a big discussion about fuel gel,& condensation, bad filters and a whole host of hard starting reasons. Also I should use a Mr. Funnel. It was recommended that I use a battery tender and cycle the starting process twice.??? - WTF ? My tractor has 5.3 hours, the fuel gauge is still on full the fuel the dealer put in....Its brand new, so all that BS about condensation has no bearing on my issue. I realize this isn't the thread about hard starting but wanted some input if a warm engine from the block heater is beneficial at startup.....My guess is yes, but is the battery tender and a couple cycle attempts necessary?? This starting issue is one of several disappointments with Kubota....I really thought Kubota was on top of their game....

Has the dealer offered to take a look at this? I've only had my BX for 1 1/2 years but have never had a problem starting it. Because it took awhile for delivery which gave me time to read these forums I have always used a Mr. Funnel, and a battery tender.

I store my BX in an unheated garage and last winter in well below freezing temp, the tractor started every time but once (don't think i had the glow plugs on long enough), I just didn't like the way it sounded when it started so got a block heater, turn it on for an hour or so and temp gage shows 1 -2 bars - she starts right up and purrs like a kitten, still have to let it idle for awhile to warm up hydraulics but I feel like I'm being kinder to my engine.

 

[03marauderman]

People have already signed up for space travel, and now it seems that I need a degree with the University of Kubota in starting my tractor......Why should the staring procedure be any different for the BX than the 'L'.....Its diesel fuel, glow plugs, compression/combustion.....How about the landscaper how has hired help? - Would he just give the key to someone and say: 'Go get the BX & start doing the job?' Chances are he would say, 'let me get it started for you, then you can take over' I can start my 75 year old John Deere 'B' flywheel hand start easier, than this brand new Kubota...What a joke.......Just like opening the hood.....I have to push down on the hood with one hand, and pull that lever with the other??.....

 

[sheepfarmer]

People have already signed up for space travel, and now it seems that I need a degree with the University of Kubota in starting my tractor......Why should the staring procedure be any different for the BX than the 'L'.....Its diesel fuel, glow plugs, compression/combustion.....How about the landscaper how has hired help? - Would he just give the key to someone and say: 'Go get the BX & start doing the job?' Chances are he would say, 'let me get it started for you, then you can take over' I can start my 75 year old John Deere 'B' flywheel hand start easier, than this brand new Kubota...What a joke.......Just like opening the hood.....I have to push down on the hood with one hand, and pull that lever with the other??.....

Well they are both dead easy once you know now to do it and can count 1 mississippe 2 mississ. Etc. The reason the new Bs and the new Ls over 26 hp are different is because the new Ls have high pressure common rail computer controlled fuel injection engines and and are similar to my 2003 truck engine. The Bs and BXs are more "old fashioned" in engine design.

Try starting it following the directions for YOUR tractor. If it doesn't turn over and start promptly then time to do more trouble shooting. If you have only put 5 hours on it in the last few months, a battery tender is a good idea, since it doesn't sound like it gets enough regular use to keep the battery charged.

 

[03marauderman]

Thank you...Just venting out my frustrations...I really don't think my expectations are all that unreasonable.....I have had a battery tender on it as I do with all my cars trucks ect..... My visit to the dealer was to arrange for a block heater.....I didn't want the liability if something went wrong, but I'll do it myself.....A warm engine will start easier, as the fuel up to & close to the engine will be warm as well.....What happens at fuel tank, pump, & filter is another topic.....