Hauling grain....

[Braveheart]

We generally haul when needed. Starting augers can be an issue but we change oil to 0w40. Just bought a magnetic block heater maybe that will help also. Try to just ignore the weather. It's out of my control.

[Braveheart]

Auger tire chains sound like a good plan.

[farmaholic]

Braveheart.... we took the battery off and put it in a warm place with the charger on it and we also just bought an magnetic heater as well. The thing got hot enough to burn my fingers.... duh, live and learn. Always put gasline antifreeze in the gas in fall before freeze up. Days/times like this I wish I was more of a hot destination type of person...

[biglentil]

Auger tire chains sound like a good plan.

Yes no kidding have to order a set hard to findem locally these days. BnB small motors sells a heated insulated tarp you throw over the motor 200 clams though.

[therealnorthernf]

chains on the auger tires, wouldn't that just make it harder to push/pull around? I find winter boots with big knobby rubber soles the best for getting the auger into the bin hole..

Stay warm and be careful

[Oliver88]

Princess Auto sells a $70 silicone pad heater, 150 W that you can apply quite successfully to a flat surface.
magnetic block/oil heaters, work great too.....not sure which one is more expensive?

Between that and synthetic oil, never an issue starting.

[fjlip]

Every engine aluminum, mag heater no stick? Lots of fun, hoist barely goes up or down some days.
Electric motors start just like summer, just stiff belts.

[Oliver88]

Every engine aluminum, mag heater no stick? Lots of fun, hoist barely goes up or down some days.
Electric motors start just like summer, just stiff belts.

I bought one of these silicone heating pads (they have various sizes) at Princess Auto, the adhesive is strong and we put it on a Kohler with a cast aluminum surface.
http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/silicone-heater-pad/A-p8641052e

Have also used one of those magnetic heaters on a different auger, just put it on oil filter and it seems to heat up oil.

[stonepicker]

Every engine aluminum, mag heater no stick? Lots of fun, hoist barely goes up or down some days.
Electric motors start just like summer, just stiff belts.

As far as hoists go, throw1/2 a gal. of kerosene in your hyd. oil ( maybe a gal. ) works very well.

[binthere]

just had a flashback. dad told me how they used to drain the motor oil in winter from the main vehicle. as they had no power. they would keep the containers under the wood stove and refill the crankcase with nice hot oil to use the vehicle.