An ordinary "trouble light" with a metal cage, the kind you might find at a hardware store, will do a good job of heating a small engine. Just be sure to use an incandescent 60 watt bulb, not a CFL type lamp. You need the waste heat from the old-style bulb to keep the engine block warm. You might allow 4 hours for the engine to get warm. Best to keep an eye on it, and make sure that you don't have the lamp close to anything that can burn or get singed. You want to warm the engine, not cook it.

Many of the current production troy bilts are equipped with the Chinese engine and I suppose the lamp idea already mention might be the best bet. Take care that the heat source is not close to the fuel system.

Briggs and Stratton offers a dipstick heater for the Briggs engines. This heater is listed in the quick reference catalog. I don't know if this can be adapted to the Chinese engine.

Thanks.

You might try this, kind of pricey though.

http://www.amazon.com/Kats-1153-Handi-Heat-Magnetic-Heater/dp/B000BOABS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325290183&sr=8-1

Here is a link that might be useful: block heatr

Using full synthetic oil makes starting very cold motors start much easier, without the heat. The oil doesn't thicken the way dino oil does.

Thanks Exmar that is exactly what I was looking for. The pad they make also sounds good. I have also changed to Mobil 1 and hope to try it out today as the temp hovers around 14.

Agree awith mbsl98, good oil and good clean fresh gas. If you leave it ourside, the least you can do is start it every 6 weeks through the year to keep all the fluids circulated. Also, try not to leave it on dirt or grass as the moisture will rust it prematurely.

Synthetic and fresh gas is certainly the way to go, don't forget a good gas treatment, I prefer the ones formulated for use with the ethanol junk we're forced to buy.

Also, Something I remembered from the time I existed (not lived) in Oswego, NY with the lake effect snow, frigid temperatures, etc. Snowblowers like to collect partially melted snow in the most inconvient places and then freeze solid. Perhaps it's because of the heat of the running machine, or the salt that gets brought in from the street and partially melts stuff-dunno. ANyway, the machine that ran fine the night before suddenly won't move, the belts smoke, and trying to break things free with a hammer, etc isn't recomended. If you have anywhere to take it above freezing periodically do so and let it drip a while. Alternately a simple shop light with a 60 watt bulb inserted down the chute works wonders given some time. I've heard/read that spraying down the impeller and feeders while still wet with WD-40 (Water Dispersant I believe) is reported to work well also, I never tried it.

Good luck,

Ev

I just use an old heavy blanket personally.