What size coolant heater for a 300?

Zachary Hoyt

Well-known Member
My 300 does not start nicely when the temp is below 20 or so. It
starts right up, runs for about ten seconds and then dies and
that is it. I had a small hang-off-to-the-side coolant heater that
came with it that I hooked up last winter but it did not help. The
hose going out of the heater would be warm but not hot and the
temp gauge never showed anything. I am thinking about getting
a heater that goes in the lower radiator hose and am wondering
how many watts I need to really be able to warm up the engine
enough to matter and if there is a brand to look for or to avoid. I
occasionally have lows down to -30 F but mostly this would only
be down to -10 or higher. The tractor is inside an unheated
building right next to a plug. Any advice will be very much
appreciated.
Zach
 
A core plug heater in the block is best. A tank heater (that works) is also fine but ugly). A lower radiator hose heater can work well. I would say 600 to 750 watts is reasonable on the low end, and 1200 would be strong. Put it on a timer and run the timer set so it begins heating 2 hours before you need it, and shuts off an hour after you don"t.
Heating all night will not be financially reasonable. Jim
 
Someone put a welsh plug style heater in the water jacket cover (behind the carb) on my M. It has threads and they drilled a hole and bonded the nut to the cover. The heater screws into that. If you give it a couple of hours it does an outstanding job. I want to say it is a 400 watt, but it puts the heat exactly where it is needed not in a hose a foot from the engine. I am very impressed with the way it works.

Google it. It should be the same size as a "freeze plug" heater but have threads. Find a nut that will thread on it and put that on the cover. It isn't welded on so it must be epoxied or something. It is the slickest thing I have seen and works well. If it were me I would weld the nut to the cover although it would be tough because that metal would be easy to burn through.

I would have looked at it closer the last time I had the cover off, but I was afraid to mess with it much. If it ain't broke.
 
Zach I have a farmall 300 that I use for snow removal. These tractors seem to be very cold blooded. Mine starts right up it has pertronix ignition,but it has to warm up for ten to fifteen minutes before I can move it without it dying. I think an engine heater would help greatly. Been lucky this year though,we have only had a couple inches here in Iowa. Supposed to be in the thirtys and fortys the next few days.
 
To put it in perspective, I have a DEERE 4020 diesel, a LOT more coolant and iron, and have a 750 Watt tank heater on it (no provision for a block heater), and it has never failed to get nice and warm and start easily in an unheated polebarn in northern ND, even down to -20º.
 
I think you might have an issue with your fuel. You're getting it to start but most likely your carb is running out fuel (that's why it won't start the second time). I had similar issues until I finally drained a couple gallons of gas through the carb and loaded the FULL fuel tank up with Seafoam and Dry Gas. I still have to let it run for a couple minutes before I can put the tractor under any kind of load without killing it though.
 
I have 1500 watt external tank heater on a H. Plumbed from the block drain behind the carb, up to the cylinder head"s port for the temp gage.

Works well. 30-60 minutes plugged in, starts no problem below 0.
 
23 Red is on target and will work well. If you want to leave it plugged in use a smaller unit but it will cost more to operate.
 
I had a 400 one time that was like that. If it would turn over it would start, but you had better leave the choke on full. After a few seconds it would start to stumble and then you pushed the choke in just till it would stop stumbling, then you played with it till you could push the choke in all the way. Then you set it at a fast idle and went to the house and had a cup of coffee and let it warm up before you used it.
The tank heater like was said is the best, It will not get it hot enough to move your gauge, but it will warm it up enough.

Bob
 
Go with 1500W. Electrical power is heat. You won't have to leave it on as long to get the water warm.

Greg
 

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