Cold starting difficulties

[drglinski]

As ready as I am for moving snow, I found out today that my cub is not. She was being stubborn and not wanting to start. I finally got it with a jump from the truck.

Let me describe the conditions.

-I had not started it in about 2 or 3 weeks.
-Between those two weeks, the temps. rose from 30 degrees to 60 on Thanksgiving then on Friday dropped to a high of average 35.
-I am forced to leave the cub outside.
-It's covered by a tarp, then a lean-to awning, but exposed to wind on 3 sides. (not the best, but it's what I've got.)
-I've never had trouble starting it before.
-Batt is not that old; I don't think it's bad.
-It's got 10 30 wt oil in it.
-Exterior air temp at start up was 35, no wind.
-Starting fluid was not necessary.
-This is the first year I've used it in the winter.
-This is the first year I've ever used a cub in the winter. (I have run a Farmall H before on snow removal so I'm familiar with old engines and cold starts.)
-Once it did fire, it ran great, like it had no problems. The ammeter indicated a charge was indeed present.
-I've checked the generator last month with a voltage meter, it puts out 13/14 volts at mid to high idle.

When I was cranking it over, it was cranking sluggish, but not poorly like the battery was dead. It just didn't catch until I got the truck on it and it was able to spin faster.

What should I do? I'm concerned that it's going to be troublesome all winter and when I need it to perform it won't. I would like to avoid jumping it every time I need it. Should I put the (batt) charger on it more often? It's not even that cold out yet.


Thanks