Joined
·
204 Posts
Has anyone had issues lately with turning the engine over in these insanely bitter cold temperatures?
even my car is struggling.
even my car is struggling.

LOL to start a mercedes and to start a brutus are two nearly identical things. Mercedes doesnt use 1000 computers to start the engine, it uses a starter like EVERYTHING else.It doesn't even have to be a deep cycle battery.
This is a brutus after all, not some high end mercedes that has 1000 computers to run the thing.
If anything a higher CCA (cold cranking amps) battery would be better, and FAR more cheaper.
Heating the whole garage is probably overkill, but even a cheap magnetic heater will help with cold starting, at a third of the price of a block heater.@bruteforce Have you looked into getting a heater or a new battery yet? I'm just curious if you've figured out what the best solution to the problem is. I am leaning towards the use of a block heater or even a space heater in the garage. Really you just need to make the Brutus a bit warmer. Shouldn't be that hard.
I wish i had a place to plug in a block heater. I think the only reason she started this morning (12 degrees with 25mph winds) is a swapped out the oil the Brutus was delived with for Shell Rotella Synthetic (5w40). Cranked for a bit but eventually started. It sits outside in the elements 24/7 and I'm thinking if it gets below zero I'm going to need to pre heat somehow.I haven't used my blockheater yet, as it's only been in the 20's & 30's in Northern Maine.
Won't be lone for the -30's to get here.
I plan on using the block heater, but I only use it for 20 minutes to and hour, when its way below zero I will use a small kerosene or propane heater to keep it warm.
1/8 throttle helped a lot with cold starts. Started and stalled with no throttle. Last night I gave it 1/8 throttle and cycled the glow plugs 2 times, started right up. I think the air temp was under 10 degrees.I'm using the shell T-6 5-40 like you.
The manual says to cycle the glow plugs several times in a row before starting in real cold weather. If it starts cranking without a fairly quick start, stop and cycle the glow pugs a couple of times again, instead of grinding the starter, I also set the throttle up about an inch before I turn the key, the proper amount to push the throttle forward should leave the engine running at around 1300-1400 rpm's once it starts. That might help, mine has been starting, but it's only been in the 20's or 30's so far.
With the hydrostatic drive you should let the machine warm up 10 minutes or so before gently starting to use it in below freezing weather so the hydrolic oil can warm up. You don't want to be blowing seals. I don't know what the wattage is on the block heater, but my old tractor's was 450 watts. You can string together a couple of hundred foot 12 gauge extention cords and still be safe. Maybe 3 hundred footers, there are math formulas on Internet that will tell you if your going to overload it.
Great info on this thread on cold starts. I use an additive on every tank as well. What spreader are you using?1/8 throttle helped a lot with cold starts. Started and stalled with no throttle. Last night I gave it 1/8 throttle and cycled the glow plugs 2 times, started right up. I think the air temp was under 10 degrees.
Got to use the plow for the first time. Works great for cleaning up parking spots and around light poles. Its a bit tricky on a standard 60" sidewalk since a fully angled plow blade is 59.8" Rolled a bit of grass but nothing major. Much easier to salt a lot with the brutus compared to my 2500hd with 8' bed and the turning radius of an elephant. Cuts the time down by at least 50% and i get better coverage in the corners and handicap spots.