Tank and/or lower radiator hose heater for IH 2544

BrentinIA

Member
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!
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I think I would try radiator hose heater first, seems to have enough up angle to get heat moving up ok. soft plug heater would be better at warming block, but, you might encounter difficulties if you try to do it now, like you said. I think if I used tank heater, I would like to find an opening that would handle more water flow than the petcock drain. I am sure there will be other solutions on here as well. just an old lazy guys opinion. Good luck.
 
Putting the temp sender in one leg of a Tee will stop of sender from reading actual accurate coolant temp. The sender has to be "in the flow" of warm/hot coolant and the tee is a dead end. May as well not even install the tee and just leave the sender hanging!

I'm personally not a big fan of the lower radiator style heaters, but at least your temp gauge would still work right.
 
I have a Farmall H and an IH 240u both plumbed with a tee that the temp sensor is threaded into and the second outlet is a nipple with hose to a tank heater. Coolant should still flow past the sensor and make it read correctly I would think - or what am I missing? - if not my "H" gauge has been misleading me for over 20 years as it came this way when I bought it in the 1990's. :)
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Number 3 is the only option I would consider. The frost plugs are pretty easy to get out. Use a punch to tip them inward. Hit them near the edge so they tip rather than just go straight in. Avoid hitting them on the raised outer rim to keep from damaging the block. Once they turn about 45° you can use a pry bar to pop them out. If it happens to go all the way in just lift it up and pry it out. Use a bit of emery paper or sand paper to clean the block.
 

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