Heater for Aircooled Diesel

BobH in NH · Jan 23, 2011

I have an old ("61) Bobcat with a Lombardini single cylinder aircooled diesel. It does not have a glow plug or heater of any type and has an oil bath air cleaner. With temp close to zero it was almost impossible to start last night. I need it daily to move round bales for feeding.

Does anyone know of a heater which would work on this engine?

C.R. · Jan 23, 2011

I have a magnetic mount heater that works well if the block or oil pan is steel try one of them I have seen dipstick heaters but i have not tried them so I do not know how well they do

Lloyd In South Carolina · Jan 23, 2011

Not familiar with that machine I guess it would depend of if you could direct the heat to make this work,,,, for my loader I purchased a small propane topedo heater, 55,000 btu's.

I take the sidecover off and point it at the block for about 10 to 15 minutes,,, it starts like a summer day!

L.

Allen Goodman · Jan 23, 2011

I just got a dipstick heater from NAPA for my JD 5425 even though it has a intake heater, still was hard to start when below zero. Seems to work pretty well by keeping the oil fluid. It was $18.95. Could use a magnetic oil pan heater. Have one of them on a 75 F250 plow truck. Seems to work good also.

El Toro · Jan 23, 2011

I use a dipstick heater on my garden tractor if the temp get pretty low. Hal

flying belgian · Jan 23, 2011

I agree with Lloyd. Torpedo. Not only will it start but good oil pressure right away, Hydr. oil flows nice, diesel fuel will not jell and controls will be a little warmer for your hands and feet for a while.

Mike (WA) · Jan 23, 2011

The torpedo idea would work (kind of the modern equivalent of when the old guys used to start a little fire under the tractor). Use a dipstick heater as well, to keep the oil thinner.

My dad used to heat the intake manifold with a propane torch for awhile.

buickanddeere · Jan 23, 2011

Some measuring will find the physically largest and highest wattage oil heater in the Phillips and Temro catalog.
Simply thread into the oil drain instead of the drain plug.

300W 120V 1/2" NPT 5" (12.7cm) Water/Oil 8609683 — Stainless Steel
300W 240V 1/2" NPT 5" (12.7cm) Water/Oil 8609659 — Stainless Steel
300W 120V 3/4" NPT 11-1/8" (28.2cm) Oil 2201968 — Stainless Steel
300W 120V M22 x 1.5 5-1/2" (13.9cm) Water/Oil 8602913 8602905 Stainless Steel
300W 120V 3/4" NPT 5-1/2" (13.9cm) Water/Oil 8603243 — Stainless Steel
300W 120V 1" NPT 6" (15.2cm) Oil 2202662 Stainless Steel
300W 120V 1" NPT 6" (15.2cm) Water/Oil 8609861 8609853 Stainless Steel
300W 120W 1-5/16" STOR 5" (12.7cm) Water/Oil 3500079 — Stainless Steel
300W 240V 1-5/16" STOR 5" (12.7cm) Water/Oil 3500078 — Stainless Steel
300W 120V M27 STOR 5-1/2" (13.9cm) Water/Oil 3500093 — Stainless Steel
450W 120V 1/2" NPT 7-1/2" (19cm) Water/Oil 8609713 — Stainless Steel
450W 120V M27 STOR 7-1/4" (18.4cm) Water/Oil 3500049 — Stainless Steel

IOWA NORTHEAST · Jan 23, 2011

What you can also do if you decide to use the topedo heater, is purchase a adjustable duct work elbow so it fits over the hot end. That way you can direst the heat where you want to by adjusting the curve in the elbow. We use that method to thaw water pipes, cattle waters, and several other aplications.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 23, 2011

I use a 100 watt bulb in a trouble light placed against the oil pan. A timmer turns it on 4 hours before I want to use the tractor.

buickanddeere · Jan 23, 2011

I would guess the engine looks something like this style before they started looking like Kohlers.
http://www.lombardinigroup.it/lombardini-products/air-cooled-diesel-engines/12-ld-477-2

A hair dryer set to blow hot air into the center or the flywheel/fan maybe enough heat after a few hours? I wouldn't use an electric heat gun and melt wiring etc.

Randy Corlew · Jan 23, 2011

Sir,
Lot's of great ideas, I believe the magnetic heater is the best idea if you can use it. If not a ceramic 110v heater which would blow hot air in a direction would be next best to blow on the cyl. if that is what you need. Or maybe the dipstick heater for your oil, ceramic for the cyl and a contact magnetic heater for the head.
I would be concerned about blow dryers or kerosene heaters for the fire concern.

buickanddeere · Jan 24, 2011

Seems an electric 1500W/5115btu hair dryer that is safe to hold next to your head. Blowing into the flywheel/cooling fins.
Would the hair dryer be dangerous than a 55,000btu flaming heater.

BobH in NH · Jan 25, 2011

Hi all!

Thanks for all the great input and ideas! The design of this older model engine (4 LD Series) is similar to an old Clinton or Briggs horizontal shaft and limits opportunities to heat it.

To start it in the sub-zero temps of the past few days I used a Bernz-o-Matic torch with small tip and flame spreader and heated the air inlet pipe connecting the oil bath air cleaner and engine. It is thick walled, about 4-5 inches long. Biggest problem was that torch was hard to light because of the temperature, then had to be slightly inverted to get the flame on the tube and it kept flaming out. But the engine started quickly both times.

Heater for Aircooled Diesel

BobH in NH

Member

C.R.

Member

Lloyd In South Carolina

Member

Allen Goodman

Member

El Toro

Well-known Member

flying belgian

Well-known Member

Mike (WA)

Well-known Member

buickanddeere

Well-known Member

IOWA NORTHEAST

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

buickanddeere

Well-known Member

Randy Corlew

New User

buickanddeere

Well-known Member

BobH in NH

Member

Similar threads