John Deere 318 engine heater

Is there such a thing as an engine heater for a JD 318?

On a side note I have now obtained a factory service manual and a factory owners manual. Now it is too cold outside for me to work on the tractor.

I need to find a way to get all the way on to the tractor. I have limited movement in both legs and have to drive it with one knee on the seat and the other leg on the running board. I think if I get an old pan seat to replace the high back seat that is on there now I can get all the way on.
 
Being a gasoline engine there is no real need for an engine heater. If it was extremely cold where you are, you might could use one of those engine oil dipstick heaters to warm the oil
 
I'm a fat old geezer with knee and leg issues as well as huge feet. I have problems getting on and off my old tractors. I have a Gravely 16G garden tractor that seems to be quite similar in size and appearance to your Deere. The PTO clutch went out on the tractor several years ago, so I haven't been on it for quite a while. I had one heck of a time getting off the tractor. I found I was able to straighten my left leg and swing it over the tractor's steering wheel and hood. With both legs then on the right side of the tractor I was able to make a less-than-graceful slide off the high back seat onto the ground.

When I get on my 1950's vintage Ford Tractors I use an added on step to help me get onto the foot board. It's almost impossible for me to step over the transmission hump with my right leg in a normal fashion, but I have found that if I partially sit on the left fender I can lean back far enough to swing my right leg over the transmission hump. I'm sure that it isn't a pretty sight, but sometimes you can find a way.
 
Some of the aftermarket seats sold as will fit for LGT's are a couple inches thicker than the original John Deere seats.
A couple inches difference between the seat and the steering wheel make a lot of difference.
I'd be checking that - I have one of the thicker seats.
 
Never heard of a heater on a small air cooled engine. As long as the choke functions properly, it should start. I know they used to put block heaters on all engines (gas or diesel) in Canada where it got to -40 or more. At -40, even my snowmobiles complained. Why are you asking?
 
I can understand needing a step to get on your older Ford tractors. I also need a step. Once I am on the running board I turn and face out and then I put my right leg up behind me and over the transmission, then turn and sit down. I have also made brackets to raise the seats up and rearward by about 3 inches.
 
On an as tick on heater but you would need to figure out how to stick it on since it is likely to be an aluminum engine block
 
I keep my snow blowing tractor in the unheated garage. It almost always spins the motor right up but if it's super cold I hang a couple heat lamps over it.
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I used a piece of 3 x 5 rectangular tubing to raise my seat 3 and move it back about 6 or so. My shoe size is 15eeeeeeeee, so the running board is barely wide enough for a toe hold. Turning around while standing on the running board is a challenge.
 
Use an old blanket or canvas tarp and cover the mower and put a 60 watt bulb under it. I have used a clamp on heat bulb socket and a timer(so you don't forget and leave it on)
 
When I bought my Polaris 4-wheeler it was hard starting, I got a magnetic engine heater, but the only place to stick it was the oil filter, but it did help. If you stuck a magnetic heater to the frame near the engine and covered it with a tarp it would help, but it would take time. The one I have doesn't get hot enough to start a fire.
 

I have run three different Cub Cadets, one 125 and two different 127's.
All were hydrostatic like your JD 318.
When the temps got into the teens or lower I would place a hooded clamp on light holder with 100 watt bulb really close to the oil pan.
And another under the hydrostatic tranny.
Then two moving blankets over the tractor.
Plugged lights into a timer to come on four hours before needed.

Always started like it was only 50 outside.

The biggest improvement vs starting was the hydrostatic was not sluggish and moaning from being really cold.
 
Why not use an Electric Ceramic Space Heater with a fan?

Small ones can be gotten rather cheaply.
 

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