[AT] Easier to Start?

[charlie hill]

Back in the 70's I had an old GMC cab over road tractor with an 8V71 
detroit.  I was hauling mostly logs with it and occasionally a van load of 
chips or veneer.
It had a block heater on it that looked just like a water heater element. 
It went directly into the water jacket of the engine block.  At night I 
would plug in the heater,
hook a trickle charger to the batteries and turn the cab heater fan on low. 
It doesn't get that cold here but I've been out  in the morning when the 
temps were in the 15 F range.
The cab would be comfortable, probably 55 degs or so and the engine would 
fire as soon as I hit the starter button.  That heater was the best trucking 
money I ever spent.
Before I bought that truck I was driving a Brockway with a newer and better 
8V71 Detroit in it.  The guy I drove for didn't have engine heaters on his 
trucks.  I've spent many
an hour at 3 or 4 in the morning, freezing cold, fingers aching from the 
cold, trying to get those engines to fire.  Several mornings I just had to 
give up and wait for daylight
and help from the mechanic.

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Ralph Goff
Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2012 3:30 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Easier to Start?

On 7/21/2012 10:54 AM, Dean VP wrote:
> Tyler,
>
> The web sites I listed all show a block heater the will screw into the 
> 3/4" coolant drain
> plug in the JD A's head. Once installed it stays there and you hook up 
> 120V when needed.
>
> Dean VP
> Snohomish, WA
>
I had some idea that JD offered the oil heater as a factory option on
their older tractors. I will have to check the manual of my AR. I know I
have a plug in heater on it but not sure if it is for oil or coolant.

Ralph in Sask.

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