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Circulating heater for IH 444

H

HappyJack

Member
The previous owner of my tractor put on it what appears to be a Temro Zero Start circulating tank heater. It worked great for me for the first two winters I owned the tractor, now its acting up.

When I plug it in, I can hear it starting to heat up then, after about 30 seconds, it stops heating. Won't heat again until much later.

Anyone have any experience with circulating heaters in diesel tractors? Mine is the BD 154 version of the 444. I'd love to either fix this one or get a new one that is suited to ag use.

Thanks

Scotty
 
If the current stops flowing in the heater element, it is one of 3 things. A bad element that makes and breaks contact, a
thermostat that has failed, or a bad AC connection or wire. Generally they are not repairable (wire fail is easiest unless
it is at/inside the housing. Jim
Many
 
(quoted from post at 18:50:33 02/13/22) If the current stops flowing in the heater element, it is one of 3 things. A bad element that makes and breaks contact, a
thermostat that has failed, or a bad AC connection or wire. Generally they are not repairable (wire fail is easiest unless
it is at/inside the housing. Jim
Many
Click to expand...

It's also possible that something is clogged so heated coolant can't circulate from the heater through the engine and the heater's internal thermostat shuts it off when the coolant in it gets HOT.

That would explain it shutting off and not working again for awhile, 'til the coolant in it cools enough to reset the T-stat.
 
(quoted from post at 19:11:53 02/13/22)
(quoted from post at 18:50:33 02/13/22) If the current stops flowing in the heater element, it is one of 3 things. A bad element that makes and breaks contact, a
thermostat that has failed, or a bad AC connection or wire. Generally they are not repairable (wire fail is easiest unless
it is at/inside the housing. Jim
Many
Click to expand...

It's also possible that something is clogged so heated coolant can't circulate from the heater through the engine and the heater's internal thermostat shuts it off when the coolant in it gets HOT.

That would explain it shutting off and not working again for awhile, 'til the coolant in it cools enough to reset the T-stat.
Click to expand...

I spent some more time digging through the archives of YT last night and saw a post saying something similar. When the temps rise a bit here I will pull it off and see if there is anything blocking it.

Thanks
 
Anyone have any suggestions of replacements if it comes down to that? In my googling efforts I found one that was "suited for industrial and agricultural uses" but I can't seem to find it anymore.
 
Not sure what you are looking for but every farm and fleet store carries a circulating tank heater. This site lists one too.

Your tractor should not need anything special where it comes to circulating tank heaters. It's just a little utility tractor.
 

Thanks. I'd love to run to my favourite store but cross-border travel is out for me right now. I guess I should have specified a Canadian source or internet. Saw a few on Amazon but wasn't sure if there was a preferred model people had.
 
Had an IH 656D. Installed an in-block heater in a freeze plug opening. It was the most useful, trouble free heater I've found.
 
(quoted from post at 11:33:08 02/14/22) Princess Auto doesn't have them? I thought they had everything.
Click to expand...

Sadly no, at least not on their website. They have magnetic heaters but I have one of those and 200 watts of heat on the oil pan when the air temperature is minus 20 is no competition.

I have found a few candidates I will purchase if I find that the heater is indeed not working - its supposed to warm up tomorrow or Wednesday so I will try to pull it off and check for blockages.
 
Hi, did the location of the tank heat get moved? The outlet at the top of the tank has to be below the level of the top of the block and best if it is below the level of the input from the block, see attached
photo on a CIH 495. When Dad had a 434 and 384 all with BD154 engines, he had recirculating tank heaters on them but so long ago I can't remember where the top outlet was connected, bottom was to block drain.
Also problems if coolant level is low or if they get an air lock, loosen top outlet connection and see if air or coolant comes out. They do have a cutout thermostat that shuts them off if too hot.


cvphoto117576.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 13:14:15 02/14/22) Hi, did the location of the tank heat get moved? The outlet at the top of the tank has to be below the level of the top of the block and best if it is below the level of the input from the block, see attached
photo on a CIH 495. When Dad had a 434 and 384 all with BD154 engines, he had recirculating tank heaters on them but so long ago I can't remember where the top outlet was connected, bottom was to block drain.
Also problems if coolant level is low or if they get an air lock, loosen top outlet connection and see if air or coolant comes out. They do have a cutout thermostat that shuts them off if too hot.


<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto117576.jpg>
Click to expand...

Thanks. No, the heater hasn't moved. I'm thinking its either an air lock or sediment blockage. When it warms up tomorrow I will check on it.

Thanks
 
Once again, with the aid of this group, I have effected troubleshooting a tractor problem. My thanks.

It turns out it was a little low on coolant (my bad, shame on me...) and that likely caused an airlock. I topped it up and pulled the top hose off the heater - coolant came from both the hose and heater so I deduced no blockage. When I plugged it in it worked for a few minutes then stopped. I shook it and squeezed the outlet hose (now hot) and it started again, Took a few repeats of this to get it working.

The amazing thing is how good these tank heaters work: 15 minutes of heating and the tractor could turn over and start at minus 15 Celsius.

Thanks again for the guidance

Scotty
 
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