Wow, this one hit us dead center.... haven't seen anything official since 11" early last evening, but guessing 12 to 14". Sure hope the old 240U fires up later. Will get a chance to see if the "new" wheel weights help any. Last I saw, it was 7 degrees and climbing slowly... maybe at 10 or 12 I'll get out and try it. Sure wish I had the heavy winter clothes I had as a kid in Iowa... coveralls, parka, insulated boots, what I'd give for them this morning :lol: .

Where are you located - has been snowing all night here in south central Missouri but nothing in the amount you mention. It was 8 F a few minutes ago and looks like 3-4" here and still snowing lightly. Haven't been out yet but looks real dry and light stuff which should be easy to deal with. The cattle are used to being fed around noon so will be getting out a little later. I'm thinking the 240U will get it done, Hal.

(quoted from post at 10:57:16 02/09/11) Where are you located - has been snowing all night here in south central Missouri but nothing in the amount you mention. It was 8 F a few minutes ago and looks like 3-4" here and still snowing lightly. Haven't been out yet but looks real dry and light stuff which should be easy to deal with. The cattle are used to being fed around noon so will be getting out a little later. I'm thinking the 240U will get it done, Hal.

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I'm in SC Kansas. Daughter just called from KC and said she saw that 30 mi. east of us got 17" and wondered what we had. They only had 2" in KC, but they had a foot last week. Did you get it then? I'm getting ready to go out and try it... it's warming up pretty good, maybe 12 degrees now.
Glad I don't have cattle to feed in this stuff. As a kid in Iowa my dad milked cows until I was 13... They had water in the barn, got fed in the barn and on [u:3bd0c6d4a1]really bad[/u:3bd0c6d4a1] days, didn't even go out. Later we had beef cows and when it was bad we could throw bales out hay mow doors into feed bunks, so that wasn't too bad.

Got the 240U started and it ran about 10-15 sec. and died. Would not start again right away, but did a little later... ran 15-20 sec. and died. Think I may have ice in the carb or fuel system somewhere. Got a heat bulb on the carb now. If it starts and runs, I have a bottle of Heat I can pour in it. May do that anyway. Not running long enough to be electrical (coil or new condenser) heating up, or water melting into something. Anything else it could be?

Stopped snowing over here around noon today. Has warmed up somewhat also but suppose to be colder tonight. Saying near 50 F though this weekend.
I do the small square bales using the barns and managers that dad and I built back in the 1950's. I find that is no more trouble then trying to get a diesel tractor started in the cold and stashing a few round bales around for the cattle. Most barn fires in this area are caused by diesel tractors being kept warm with heaters which malfunction and start the fires. Being around and so close to my cattle they all think I'm momma and are very easy to deal with. Just feed a bale or so for every two to three cows per day and that takes care of it. Just gets you going everyday to take care of them but when retired not a problem. When it becomes work and no more a pleasure the time to give it up but I think I have several more years to go. Take care and stay warm and dry as best you can, Hal.

In later years that Dad was alive, he did the round bales and had a gas 460 w/fast Hitch to move them, but always had some small squares in the barn for bad weather. After Dad was gone, Mom kept the cows, about 16 to 18, and just did square bales, for another 11 years. She was a tough old gal, but the last winter she fell out of the hay mow into the back of the pickup. She was feeding in a field with a 4WD pickup unless the snow was too deep. Decided it was time to give them up, I think she was 78 or 79. She rented the land out on shares so kept half the bales.

I did get my drive plowed out. Must have been ice in the carb, and I put a bottle of Heat in the tank, so hope that takes care of it. I am retired, so wasn't in a big hurry... still nice to be able to get out.

I've noticed in this cold weather and even before it got really cold my Farmalls (all have updraft carbs) gets like frost on the carb. Seems like the only way to keep them running until they get warm is stay active on the choke and that usually helps. Had the same problem back in the fall when dew point was close to temperature as well or in high humidity. Must be the nature of the updraft carbs. Once things got warmed up everything was fine but took a while. Glad you got your blading done for now and hope we can stay clear for a few days, Hal.

IH fan; Use the HEET now as it will do it's job, running or not. In December I purchased a case of the stuff at Farm ~Fleet; it will keep and the price will only go up. F~F also has tractor hydraulic fluid on sale through Sunday; it's oil and you know what that is going to do. In SW-Wisc. we've had temps to the -15* range in the valleys with steady windchills in the -20's since Sunday night. I sure love this snow though! Farmallhal; I hope you have many years in ya!

(quoted from post at 18:23:58 02/09/11) IH fan; Use the HEET now as it will do it's job, running or not.
I sure love this snow though!

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I put my last bottle of Heet in it after I had the heat lamp on the carb and it stayed running. There was something like frosted gas on the outside of the carb. The loader moved a heck of a lot more snow than the blade. I put wheel weights on it this fall (got them from a guy off of YT) and I think even that 150# helped, along with my 250 . Think I'll hit TSC tomorrow and get some more Heet to have on hand.
As a kid, probably not all that far from where you are, I didn't mind the snow and cold too much. Always said you can put on enough clothes to stay warm, but can't always take off enough to stay cool. Now I don't like either extreme.

Heet is basically Methanol and other mot listed stuff. It is not needed if your fuel is blended with Ethanol. Both alcohols are able to absorb water and assist in removing water from fuel. Putting methanol in a fuel system is not a good idea (experienced opinion). Methanol is far more damaging to rubber, viton, plastic, and synthetic parts. (which may be rare on a Farmall, but common on other things. Even if the proportion is small, it does no good if your fuel is a mix already. Jim

1. A full gas tank is less likely to form condensation and have water problems.

2. Gas from a reputable station that you trust will have fewer ice problems than the place with the cheapest gas MOST OF THE TIME!

3. If not being used it's best to drain the gas tank and run the carb dry. STA-BEL will only keep the gas from going bad for so long.

4. Make sure gas is stored in clean containers/tanks that are not water logged.

5. Buy the wife a snow shovel for when you can't get yer stuff started!!!!!

6. Insulate dog house!

Rick

(quoted from post at 22:49:44 02/09/11)
1. A full gas tank is less likely to form condensation and have water problems.

2. Gas from a reputable station that you trust will have fewer ice problems than the place with the cheapest gas MOST OF THE TIME!

3. If not being used it's best to drain the gas tank and run the carb dry. STA-BEL will only keep the gas from going bad for so long.

4. Make sure gas is stored in clean containers/tanks that are not water logged.

5. Buy the wife a snow shovel for when you can't get yer stuff started!!!!!

6. Insulate dog house!

Rick

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1. Because I don't use the tractor that much, I don't keep the tank full... probably don't use a tank a year and guess I was more afraid of the gas getting old than collecting moisture.
2. I guess I didn't think water in gas from a station was a problem like it might have been years ago... haven't had a problem with that for years.
3. Maybe when the weather warms up, like in April or May, I should drain everything and start over.
4. My containers get drained pretty regular during the summer... 2- 5 gal. cans, and I have 2 acres where most gets mowed every week with my Dixon or old JD garden tractor.
5. Yeah, right!! Besides that, I have about 500' of circle driveway.
6. I do have an insulated dog house... dogs don't use it any more, so it's available if I get in trouble.

(quoted from post at 21:02:01 02/09/11) Heet is basically Methanol and other mot listed stuff. It is not needed if your fuel is blended with Ethanol. Both alcohols are able to absorb water and assist in removing water from fuel. Putting methanol in a fuel system is not a good idea (experienced opinion). Methanol is far more damaging to rubber, viton, plastic, and synthetic parts. (which may be rare on a Farmall, but common on other things. Even if the proportion is small, it does no good if your fuel is a mix already. Jim

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Think it would hurt to run the 10% blend in my 240U, Kolher motors on a Dixon mower and JD 140 garden tractor? I use Sta-Bil in my gas cans late in the year that will "over winter" in my engines... is it okay or needed in 10% ethanol?
I don't use 10% ethanol in my vehicles because I have tested it and I lose about 10% in fuel economy, and it's 10 cents higher here (unlike Iowa where it is cheaper than regular).

(quoted from post at 06:34:35 02/10/11) sulate dog house!

Rick

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1. Because I don't use the tractor that much, I don't keep the tank full... probably don't use a tank a year and guess I was more afraid of the gas getting old than collecting moisture.
2. I guess I didn't think water in gas from a station was a problem like it might have been years ago... haven't had a problem with that for years.
3. Maybe when the weather warms up, like in April or May, I should drain everything and start over.
4. My containers get drained pretty regular during the summer... 2- 5 gal. cans, and I have 2 acres where most gets mowed every week with my Dixon or old JD garden tractor.
5. Yeah, right!! Besides that, I have about 500' of circle driveway.
6. I do have an insulated dog house... dogs don't use it any more, so it's available if I get in trouble.[/quote]

LOL Just tell her when you give her the shovel that yer helping her do her part in "going green"......my drive takes about 30-40 minutes to clear with a 125 hp tractor and 8' blower....i'd give my wife a shovel but I wanna live....ROFL!

Around my neck of the woods we still have 2 gas stations that have water problems. Cheapest 2 gas stations at that. Plus another one that is cheap that most people notice a reduction in performance and mileage if they buy there....even includes diesel.


Rick