Engine Block Heater

I have searched the forums for any stored knowledge and found a story of a heater helping set fire to bike, shed, pants, tools, and I think I don't desire to head that route. Please forgive if I missed a previous thread.

My bike starts very happily when the temps are above freezing, and less so if I have let it get cold over night, or over weekend. Jumpstarting and pop-starting the bike has gotten very old now, and I still have a few months to lookforward to of the same. Nearly twisting my knee has gotten me thinking that it's time to find another solution.

I am looking for an engine block heater for a 550 Maxim. I am assuming that the good folks up north who have a lot experience with this also get snow, so they don't make one for the oil pan/dip stick for motorcycles. The other solution I have seen is the surface taped or magnets holding an element close to the engine. Does anyone have any advice on which heater, or way to go about this?

No, I can't build a garage or bring the bike into the house.

Thanks,

Jon

 

Well - personally if it's cold enough to need this, it's probably too cold to ride -- but that's me.

I'd say either
a) a surface-mount heater, but you'll have to figure out how to get it to say on the oil pan as ours are aluminum, not steel, so the magnet thing won't work. I know these work as I've used them on cars to keep the oil warm.
b) get a small radiant heater (infrared) and point it at the engine. That'll keep the entire thing warm, not just the oil pan.

 

Good thinking on the magnets not working, I hadn't thought about that.

The other detail that makes just a normal heater not really an option is that I live in a row house, and I have to park my motorcycle chained up to my railing. The heater would work wonderfully, but may not be there in the morning, or I might need to tell any cats or people that they have to move on and can't live under my bike cover, and that isn't attractive to me either.

 

The first thing that comes to mind for me is to tuck a battery blanket around the engine cases. A battery blanket is an electric heater that is meant to wrap around your car battery (Duh) and keep it warm so it retains more of it's cranking power for cold starts. Attached link.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Prod ... 17/c-10101

The blanket would tuck up quite well and would not be too noticeable to would be thiefs.

 

You can use one of those magnetic block heater to keep the engine warm from under the bike. No, they won't stick to an aluminum block, but you can use a cheap car jack to hold it up against the bottom of the engine. It will spin over like it's 90 degrees out! PD

 

I used a trouble light on one of my old cars that wasn't equiped with a block heater. Worked for me!

 

I had a thought about using one of the contact heaters -- what about using and adhesive Thermal Interface Mat (TIM)? You know - like they put on CPU coolers. That'd stick it on there, and still transfer heat effectively...

 

did you switch to winter weight oil ?
there are coffee cup heaters to keep your cup warm, their very cheap, and work well in a chilly garage, they keep the dogs water bowl from freezing too

 

As Polock says - winter weight oil.

Then, the other important thing is the battery. You need a top notch condition battery. You might want to put a trickle charger on it which will keep it charged and a bit warmer.

Mine spends the winter hooked up to a trickle charger. It will reliably start well below freezing.

 

I don't know about the 550 but I have a 650 that just doesn't want to start when it gets down in the 30's even with a fully charged battery. The solution to the problem was to warm the carbs up for a few minutes with the wife's hair dryer set to the highest heat and fan speed. As soon as the carbs get a bit warm to the touch the engine starts in a jiffy. I would think a short heat tape wrapped once around the carb rack would do the trick even better.

Cheers,

Phil

 

This would be an option that I have experience with. Many of the portable welders that we use up here in the oilfield don't have a proper provision for a block heater, or need a little help. I have often sold these to help them out.

http://www.padheaters.com

They also work really well on dragsters/racing applications where preheating of the oil is required/preferred. They simply glue on with a silicone adhesive.

 

When you guys come-up with something practical ... that works ... they are going to put you in the Gadget Makers Hall of Fame!

Which ain't even built yet!

Because they aren't worrying about needing space in one for XJ-Bikes Keep Warmers.

It does get interesting in here during Winter ... I tell ya!

I have the Japanese Engineers who designed the bike developing a heating system for cold XJ's.

They sent me this Memo to my email.

Klazy yang-gee. Modor-sigh-gerr nod foah winn-der lai-ding!