I have an IH 2544 gas hydro - which I think the industrial version of the 544 or at least is similar.... It always starts fine in the winter but I would like to put a tank or lower radiator hose heater on it just to keep it warm and not have to cold start it - it takes long enough to heat up the hydro oil the way it is so having the coolant and block warm I think would save wear on the engine at the least.
I have put heaters on my other Farmall/IH tractors over the years and typically pull out the temp sensor and put in a "tee" fitting run 5/8 heater hose to the tank heater and then run the other end to where I removed (or previous owners have on some of my units) the block drain petcock. See that attached photos of the temp sensor and petcock on my 2544. There is also a plug just below where the temp sensor is and I was wondering if that would be a better place to connect than putting a tee in the temp sensor?
So the tank heater is option #1.
Option #2 is to cut the lower radiator hose and put in a hose heater - probably the simplest option. See attached picture.
Options #3 is obviously to knock out a freeze plug and put in a block heater - I don't want to go down that road as it has already snowed here twice and if I have any problems getting the plug out clean, etc.. I will be stuck using a tractor without a cab until I fix it.
I appreciate all the feedback from the experts on here!
And hope you all have a great Thanksgiving weekend!
I have put heaters on my other Farmall/IH tractors over the years and typically pull out the temp sensor and put in a "tee" fitting run 5/8 heater hose to the tank heater and then run the other end to where I removed (or previous owners have on some of my units) the block drain petcock. See that attached photos of the temp sensor and petcock on my 2544. There is also a plug just below where the temp sensor is and I was wondering if that would be a better place to connect than putting a tee in the temp sensor?
So the tank heater is option #1.
Option #2 is to cut the lower radiator hose and put in a hose heater - probably the simplest option. See attached picture.
Options #3 is obviously to knock out a freeze plug and put in a block heater - I don't want to go down that road as it has already snowed here twice and if I have any problems getting the plug out clean, etc.. I will be stuck using a tractor without a cab until I fix it.
I appreciate all the feedback from the experts on here!
And hope you all have a great Thanksgiving weekend!