Using heaters to heat the Rocket's motor

[Willtill]

Hey you guys;

Me and another member have been kicking ideas around for ways to heat our engine blocks this winter; to help in starting the engine more easier. What do you think of the magnetic heater that I've attached in the link below? Where would be the best area on the crankcase to attach it, so it helps heat the oil up? The spec's say that it can heat up to 300-400 degree's, but if we stick this thing on a timer for a few hours prior; for riding in cold temperatures; should it cause no issues? The Rocket has a lot of engine; I'm sure that it would take a long time for it to get to 300-400 degree's.

The motor on the Rocket has a lot of ribbed surfaces. I'm thinking of possibly attaching it to the lower front of the crankcase where it's smooth, or maybe on the lower right side where it curves downward.

Where does the oil pool in the engine?

Thoughts?

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... uct%20Page



Kindest regards,


-Will

 

[JRock]

The oil is in the black oval tank on the left below the Bearclaw. Its a dry sump engine.

 

[Bishop]

I have one of those, never did write a review on it since it wasn't cold anymore by the time I got it but I'll be trying it once the temp drops again.

 

[Willtill]

So there's no quantity of oil anywhere at the bottom portion of the crankcase? There's no way that that oil tank on the upper left side holds all 5 liters....?


Kindest regards,

-Will

 

[Willtill]

.... you could install a Tank Heater http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... _200339137
would be better because it circulates the heated coolant throughout the entire motor.

I thought of that, and saw it. But I don't want to plumb it in to the motor. Besides the thermostat in the engine's coolant circuit probably would not open enough to really get the heated coolant circulated completely.

I did have a coolant heater (factory installed) in my F350 a while back, it did a good job in warming the engine, it warmed the coolant as well.

-but- I am looking for something simpler to use, this magnetic heater unit seems simple to use. I really don't want to go the space heater route.

I need help in determining the best part of the engine to stick it on.......


Kindest regards,

-Will

 

[Bishop]

About the only place is the oil tank.

There are a few bolts underneath that it would stick too but most of the heating surface would be exposed to the air and do nothing.

 

[JRock]

On that northern tool page they show a silicone pad heater with adhesive. It looks too large to stay hidden, but might confrm to the round shape and heat very well, too.

 

[Trirocket3]

Sump plate is the place, no oil in the tank when she's left standing

 

[Willtill]

Sump plate is the place, no oil in the tank when she's left standing

Wait a minute. Let me get this right.


When the Rocket's engine is "running"; there is no oil in the sump in the traditional sense, because all of the oil is pumped up to the oil tank for redisrtibution to the engine. Correct?


When the Rocket's engine is not running; the oil actually settles to the sump, and residual oil is left in the oil tank?

I looked in the Rocket's repair manual in Chapter 9.5, and tried to follow the schematic's which indicated the oil flow:

The Rocket III utilises a dry sump iubrication system
whereby a pressure pump takes oil from an oil tank
and delivers oil under pressure to the engine and
transmission. A scavenge pump coliects oil from the
sump and returns it to the oil tank.

What is not clear is the quantity of oil that collects in the sump; before it is pumped back up to the oil tank.

I'm confused. Am I just playing with myself here? :shock: Someone help me out.....


Kindest Regards,

-Will

 

[ruzzle]

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Sump plate is the place, no oil in the tank when she's left standing

I dunno. :?:

Isn't there an "arrangement" in the main sump drain plug - the long one - that prevents the oil tank draining into the sump when stationary? Isn't that why you are supposed to also replace the O-ring on that drain plug when doing an oil change??

And you need to remove that plug to drain the tank. Unless the O-ring is leaking or missing.

My oil tank stays full when in the garage.

I would imagine that a dry sump engine with five litres of oil in the sump would dip the crankshaft in the oil when starting up and blow white smoke everywhere???

Am I playing with myself too?? Happens with age.....