Tank heater size for Farmall M?

Marty from MN · Oct 12, 2009

I've been rebuilding an M. I want to install a tank heater to help cold weather starting.

What size is appropriate for an M? I live in MN where it can hit -40. I usually won't start the tractor under -20.

Katz has several sizes. 500 watt to 2000 watt. What size is big enough? I was thinking about an 850 watt or 1000 watt.

scott mcintosh · Oct 12, 2009

1000 or 1500 watt size will work fine.Scott

Hugh MacKay · Oct 12, 2009

Marty: How quick you want it to fire up after being plugged in is the main concern here. If I were using the tractor everyday, I'd go with 500 watt and plug it in 24x7. If I only ocasionally use the tractor I'd go 1,500 watt and plug it in about 2 hours in advance. I had 1,500s in my 560D and 656D, about 2 hours at -30F and it was like a summertime start. I rarely used those two in winter, but the heater was convenient if wanted.

Marty from MN · Oct 12, 2009

Hugh. Thanks for the advice. The only concern I would have about a 1500 watt is amperage draw. The wiring in my shed is not great to say the least. Not sure the wiring could handle the roughly 14 amp draw of the 1500 watt heater.

Hugh MacKay · Oct 13, 2009

Marty: Should handle 1,000 or 1,250 watts. I tend to resist the 500 plugged in 24x7, they use a lot of juice. Back in the 80s we figured a $1,00 per day for a 500 plugged in all the time tractor was not running, however they are the route to go if your feeding cattle or other chores everyday

TGIN · Oct 13, 2009

Guy at Portlan In. swap meet had 5 Katz 850s and wanted 5 bucks each so I bought them all . Got one on a 574D IH and a 706 IH 310D and plug them in about two hours before use and they start like sumertime . If I was to go to the store and get one it would have been bigger but the 850 works good .

El Toro · Oct 13, 2009

Hi Hugh, We had a Soviet vehicle in the cold room at -65F and with 10 minutes preheat both engines started like summertime. Hal

Jerry RV · Oct 14, 2009

I am curious where and how you are going to attach the tank heater on the M. I would like to add one but do not know where and how.

Marty from MN · Oct 14, 2009

In my case, there holes were already tapped since this tractor had a tank heater at one time. Just had to replace the hose and need the heater.

There is a plug tapped into the elbow on the upper radiator hose. I can't remember off-hand if it is above or below the thermostat, but it should be on the carb/manifold side of the tractor. I think its 3/8th or 1/2 NPT thread. Run it from there to the block drain plug, also on the manifold side.

Tank heater size for Farmall M?

Marty from MN

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