gauntjoh wrote:

Thank you for posting the details and pictures which remind me of when I worked in Russia during the winter of 1996/7 !
You would see trucks at the sides of the road where the drivers had lit fires with paper and sticks under the fuel tank to melt the fuel. It was around -30Celsius ! They didn’t have the luxury if trace tape heating.
 
I have been to Russia on multiple occasions. Visiting Irkutsk and Lake Baikal in the winter reminded of me of here in Yukon. Twenty years ago we would get a few weeks every winter not getting above -40C. I well recall one radio weather person saying "Today it will be warming up to -44C." Hard to think of -44C as 'warming up'! Like the Russians, we have creative ways of getting vehicles running in that truly severe cold. In the old days, a pan with charcoal briquets might be placed under the engine. More common were propane tiger torches--but more than one vehicle ended up as a lump of melted plastic and metal. Today most folks have plug in block heaters (and electric battery blankets and etc.). But living off-grid as I do, I am limited in what I can do electrically. But the little generator allows me to run the 1500W circulating coolant heater on the grader. After 2-3 hours of warming her (with quilts over the engine), she is happy to start. Attached is a pic of a local thermometer from winter 2009. 

 

no wonder it was giving trouble. i'd be building a roof to keep her under and keep some of the weather at bay. it dont need to be fancy a simple a frame will work. and yes i think that oil needed changing.

YES, yes, yes: Pics of Hanna Thanks.
Sorry it has been a long hard summer and I'm starting to pay the price now. I had forgot you were off grid but it looks like you improvised quit well. Great info for cold weather so I'm taking notes . I need to finish work on a towbar to pull NinKay 9K home. I don't remember this cold being this cold when I was younger. It is taking me a long time to finish the towbar in this cold with tools breaking and supplies running low but I'm finding a way.
Hanna looks great. Some new light weight lubes n oils help immensely (duly noted). So glad you were able to get Hanna running without too much trouble. Isn't that the fun with this old equipment, half play and half work but all enjoyment. Don't get me wrong there are downsides like the price your wallet pays and the only time it want you to work on it ... it is COLDER that a witch's tit in the Klondike. Thanks again gotta go... My grader is located at the end of the property with no power as well so your heating procedures ... (again duly noted).
Fat Dan

trainzkid88 wrote:

no wonder it was giving trouble. i'd be building a roof to keep her under and keep some of the weather at bay. it dont need to be fancy a simple a frame will work. and yes i think that oil needed changing.
 

Yep. It's on the wish list. Just need to win the lottery... 

Here's the video for ya, Fat Dan...

yes folding stuff is a necessary evil. and i wish money trees existed.