The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

i have my dexta wired up with a resivor for diesel and coiled copper pipe
down to heater plug a this is the moderen type not orignal dexta type,
i also have a a wire from battery to push switch on / near dash
then from dash to heater plug , push switch hold 10 seconds and
engage lever dexta starts. i have found that the heater plugs dont seem to last very
long, use the heater about 2/3 times in winter, when very cold ,tractor is easy started above
freezing point, have to change plug every winter is this normal or are these plugs made to
last a couple of times then renew rant over

They should last a lot longer than that. In what way does it fail? not get hot, fuel not flow, not ignite? I am having problems with my original type, I pull the air hose off so I can see what it's doing.

Regards

Ian

does not heat up, had it off tested it with a spanner on battery and it worked
by that i mean spriing glowed orange put it back on tractor doesnt heat, tested switch
with lamp tester at spade termail on the heater this all works but h/ plug just wont heat up on tractor
one before that was sparking an smoking but at nut on outside of manifold not insde this also done the
same when tested off battery with spanner smoked at nut end not inside at element,
this leads me to think that there are rubbish ones and good makes , it should not leak smoke at joint at top of plug
does anyone have problems with these h/plugs, im thinking ill just infest in a blow lamp be cheaper in long run

Just a quick thought, but are the cables sized correctly for the current draw? Ie Are they big enough? Heater plugs can draw a fair current. Also are all the connections tight and corrosion free?

thaks basewindow, all are tight and corrision free as i renewed all wiring
as this was my first thought , the wire is as heavy as i can use as anthing heavier
and wouldnt be able to connect to push switch ect , must be these h/plugs, or mybe
its to strong a current the plugs are 12V so should take the current
even stright from battery

I'm still using my original heater plug, 40yrs old, so there's no reason why a decent one shouldn't last.

the original type have no problem with they last for ever, but i have changed
to the modren type ,as these can take the oil pipe from reserivor which i have rigged up,
they do work well but seem to burn out very quick i only need to use when temp is below freezing
i dont use it a lot in the winter but would be nice to be able to heat her an go
for the odd run without running down
battery

have just bought a new h/plug and installed on tractor , it works great for now
about 5seconds and push leaver tractor starts although the temp is to warm to try
it properly, but we,ll see now how many starts i get or how long it lasts,
time will tell