Coldest morning you remember starting equipment

[Alan]

Can you remember the coldest morning you’ve faced while trying to start your equipment? That moment when the frost was nipping at your fingers, and you were just hoping to get everything up and running. What’s the coldest start you’ve dealt with, and what tips or tricks did you use to make it happen? Let’s trade some stories.

 

[DeereDitz]

Wow -15°F and my old Kubota just wouldn’t start. My fingers almost froze while I was trying to work the glow plugs. I had to wrap the battery in a blanket and plug in the block heater. It took forever, but it finally kicked over. Never underestimate the power of a warm battery

 

[Yorick]

The coldest I’ve dealt with? Definitely -12°F while trying to use a backhoe on a remote site. I figured out a couple tricks: cover the battery overnight, try to keep the hydraulics warm if possible, and don’t expect it to be easy just keep at it. Those brutal mornings really make you appreciate the little victories.

 

[myBarnside]

I once had to get a skid steer running at -8°F after it froze all night. I just kept cranking the engine holding my coffee and grumbling at the machine like it could actually hear me. When it finally roared to life it felt like I’d hit the jackpot that morning.

 

[Mike Lee]

-25°F when I was in Northern Minnesota. the diesel felt like molasses and the battery sounded like it was dying after one turn. my secret is a block heater plugged in for four hours and a battery maintainer

 

[Alan]

Wow, -25°F is harsh. That combination of a block heater and battery maintainer seems like a real game changer. Thanks for sharing, this is the kind of cold-start tip that’s really helpful for this thread.