Ford 4500 wont start with ether

[Auminer]

Thought ether would at least kick over almost anything. Ran when I parked it last fall, had a tough winter here in Alaska, but now nothing no smoke, nothing.
When I first tried it this spring with low battery, it did kick over with a shot of ether, but didn't run with diesel, but that's the last of anything. Been trying with fully charged battery, removed the rubber hose and sprayed directly into the intake.
I'm lost...

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I've seen new tractors brought in at a dealership. They only ran it out of fuel and used ether to start it after putting fuel in it. Ruined the engine.

You didn't open the injector lines a little and crank it over until you got fuel at injectors? Funny how everyone uses ether except diesel mechanics.

My uncle was a diesel mechanic in Vietnam. Came back and worked for Cummins. Never saw him pick up a can. I have some but only use it to seat beads on difficult tires. It does work great for that.

Make sure you are getting fuel to pump. Then make sure it's getting to the injectors. Lot of tractors leak down over time. Does tractor have a mechanical pump that supplies injector pump?

 

[TractorTech]

Ether on any engine, used very sparingly will fire it up, if the engine is sound. Use too much and it will bend a rod - engine is then toast. Also good for cleaning parts.
If it has the inline pump, the lift pump may not be getting fuel to the injector pump, but rather into the engine. Like Roustabout recommended, check fuel output first from the tank, filter, lift pump (if it has one), injection pump and then bleed injectors.

 

[Roadworthy]

Although the engine needs fuel to run don't overlook the air supply. The air filter may be clogged or you may have a rodent nest blocking airflow. Check the air path from the filter to the intake manifold. If you have glow plugs be sure they're functioning as well.

 

[Auminer]

Wow, mentioning ether on here is like throwing red meat to the Piranhas.
While I didn't see your uncle while I was in Nam, could be we were in different ops. Yup works great on tires and also came with another of my diesels, the Unimog. Bent rods, holes, cracks and even melted pistons all horror stories for sure, some have merit lots are handed down by "real" mechanics.
Still most diesels will at least fire with ether...maybe only once before they blow up, but fire never the less. even if they aren't getting diesel. Guess I'm old school as not one of my owned diesels have had glow plugs, Freightliner, Mercedes, or this old Ford. When the weather gets cold up here in Alaska we do whatever it takes to start these old irons, I've even seen pilots start fires under the pan to get it warmed up.

Ok, enough of that. I will of course bleed the injectors as I have fuel up to that point, and thanks Roadworthy for the air suggestion. Appreciate the input.
Funny no one mentioned timing, is this model noted for timing issues?

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Although the engine needs fuel to run don't overlook the air supply. The air filter may be clogged or you may have a rodent nest blocking airflow. Check the air path from the filter to the intake manifold. If you have glow plugs be sure they're functioning as well.

He said he had the air hose off and was putting the high potency spray directly in the intake.

Wow, mentioning ether on here is like throwing red meat to the Piranhas.
While I didn't see your uncle while I was in Nam, could be we were in different ops. Yup works great on tires and also came with another of my diesels, the Unimog. Bent rods, holes, cracks and even melted pistons all horror stories for sure, some have merit lots are handed down by "real" mechanics.
Still most diesels will at least fire with ether...maybe only once before they blow up, but fire never the less. even if they aren't getting diesel. Guess I'm old school as not one of my owned diesels have had glow plugs, Freightliner, Mercedes, or this old Ford. When the weather gets cold up here in Alaska we do whatever it takes to start these old irons, I've even seen pilots start fires under the pan to get it warmed up.

Ok, enough of that. I will of course bleed the injectors as I have fuel up to that point, and thanks Roadworthy for the air suggestion. Appreciate the input.
Funny no one mentioned timing, is this model noted for timing issues?

You must assume I haven't been all over Alaska. Old iron? I drove to Alaska in a 75 truck I got a deal on a 58 power major nobody could start. 4 cylinders, 8 push rods, 6 of them were bent 90 degrees from starting spray. So I hammered them out straight on a board. Rolled and tapped them until pretty fair straight. Baby fired right off, without any spray. Had not ran in 17 years. So you might check for bent push rods. Building fires under cold diesels is fine. I'll do that in a heart beat. But it ain't winter in Alaska right now. Long days and warm weather.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Wow, mentioning ether on here is like throwing red meat to the Piranhas.
While I didn't see your uncle while I was in Nam, could be we were in different ops. Yup works great on tires and also came with another of my diesels, the Unimog. Bent rods, holes, cracks and even melted pistons all horror stories for sure, some have merit lots are handed down by "real" mechanics.
Still most diesels will at least fire with ether...maybe only once before they blow up, but fire never the less. even if they aren't getting diesel. Guess I'm old school as not one of my owned diesels have had glow plugs, Freightliner, Mercedes, or this old Ford. When the weather gets cold up here in Alaska we do whatever it takes to start these old irons, I've even seen pilots start fires under the pan to get it warmed up.

Ok, enough of that. I will of course bleed the injectors as I have fuel up to that point, and thanks Roadworthy for the air suggestion. Appreciate the input.
Funny no one mentioned timing, is this model noted for timing issues?

Ford should have a thermostart screwed in the intake. If you swing the battery out it's on front of intake near radiator. It has a fuel return hose that goes to top of tank. It has a wire plugged on it that is on the spring loaded part of key switch between run and start. For the record. We keep ours in working order. When it's zero out, and we have to put out hay, if that starter touches that flywheel, it's a running. I know in Alaska you have to shut down part of the year because it's cold and dark. Make sure your thermostart is functioning properly. Ford knew about Alaska, Poland, and lots of other places when they built those tractors.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Wow, mentioning ether on here is like throwing red meat to the Piranhas.
While I didn't see your uncle while I was in Nam, could be we were in different ops. Yup works great on tires and also came with another of my diesels, the Unimog. Bent rods, holes, cracks and even melted pistons all horror stories for sure, some have merit lots are handed down by "real" mechanics.
Still most diesels will at least fire with ether...maybe only once before they blow up, but fire never the less. even if they aren't getting diesel. Guess I'm old school as not one of my owned diesels have had glow plugs, Freightliner, Mercedes, or this old Ford. When the weather gets cold up here in Alaska we do whatever it takes to start these old irons, I've even seen pilots start fires under the pan to get it warmed up.

Ok, enough of that. I will of course bleed the injectors as I have fuel up to that point, and thanks Roadworthy for the air suggestion. Appreciate the input.
Funny no one mentioned timing, is this model noted for timing issues?

No timing issues. All steel gear timing.

 

[thepumpguysc]

There’s a bleed screw by the name plate.. it’s a double screw.. loosen the 5/16 part of the screw and crank the engine.. it should shoot out about 3 ft.. tighten it up and loosen ALL the steel lines from the pump to the injectors a couple of turns..
Hold the throttle wide open and crank to a count of 10 and stop to let the starter cool..your looking for fuel to squirt out of the lines..
Once u get that, tighten up the lines and it should start now..
But, if u get no fuel up at the loosened lines at the injectors.. it’s time to get help

 

[Swblack1216]

Ford should have a thermostart screwed in the intake. If you swing the battery out it's on front of intake near radiator. It has a fuel return hose that goes to top of tank. It has a wire plugged on it that is on the spring loaded part of key switch between run and start. For the record. We keep ours in working order. When it's zero out, and we have to put out hay, if that starter touches that flywheel, it's a running. I know in Alaska you have to shut down part of the year because it's cold and dark. Make sure your thermostart is functioning properly. Ford knew about Alaska, Poland, and lots of other places when they built those tractors.

Would love to know how to install a thermostart on my 4500 it was an option I don’t have. I have all the manuals nothing shows how to add. Can you hook me up to link or drawing. Thanks

 

[sd455dan]

Wow, mentioning ether on here is like throwing red meat to the Piranhas.
While I didn't see your uncle while I was in Nam, could be we were in different ops. Yup works great on tires and also came with another of my diesels, the Unimog. Bent rods, holes, cracks and even melted pistons all horror stories for sure, some have merit lots are handed down by "real" mechanics.
Still most diesels will at least fire with ether...maybe only once before they blow up, but fire never the less. even if they aren't getting diesel. Guess I'm old school as not one of my owned diesels have had glow plugs, Freightliner, Mercedes, or this old Ford. When the weather gets cold up here in Alaska we do whatever it takes to start these old irons, I've even seen pilots start fires under the pan to get it warmed up.

Ok, enough of that. I will of course bleed the injectors as I have fuel up to that point, and thanks Roadworthy for the air suggestion. Appreciate the input.
Funny no one mentioned timing, is this model noted for timing issues?

Lets not Forget Ford offered Ether starting kits as factory options back when the 4500 was produced.
Ford also made sure the pistons had steel ring land inserts which made them much tougher than some other brands.
And No I don't use ether to start my diesels but the young man that previously owned my 550 definitely did on cold mornings.

 

[chuck172]

Were the optional ether starting kits available for the diesel engines or the optional gas engine?

 

[TractorTech]

Here is the page out of the parts book. Note that originally there was a reservoir (#1). Later versions did not use a reservoir, but just ran the leakoff line and primer line to meet close to the top of the fuel tank.
The power to activate it is supplied at the ignition switch. When the key is turned to start, there is a position to activate the starter and then an additional position to activate the starter with cold start. It could be wired to a pushbutton rather than ignition, but it is activated only when the engine is turning over, not before.
The cold start glow plug is available aftermarket. Part# C5NE9A436A

 

[TractorTech]

Were the optional ether starting kits available for the diesel engines or the optional gas engine?

Ford did not install ether start on gas engines

 

[Swblack1216]

Here is the page out of the parts book. Note that originally there was a reservoir (#1). Later versions did not use a reservoir, but just ran the leakoff line and primer line to meet close to the top of the fuel tank.
The power to activate it is supplied at the ignition switch. When the key is turned to start, there is a position to activate the starter and then an additional position to activate the starter with cold start. It could be wired to a pushbutton rather than ignition, but it is activated only when the engine is turning over, not before.
The cold start glow plug is available aftermarket. Part# C5NE9A436A

Thank you great post. Of course I got every manual except for parts manual I know better that’s the one I use most from my other tractor. The guy that owned it before me used ether every time I want to get away from that and like you said, it shows ether as an option Yet everybody screams never use it. Confusing waiting on a new key start he’s with using a screwdriver for so long. I think this switch gave up the ghost so much to learn. I am new to Ford tractors or tractors really just couldn’t pass this up for $2000 running with backhoe , gonna use it to park out my 5 acres. Lots of under brush.

 

[5030]

I'd say the motor is toast myself.

 

[Swblack1216]

I'd say the motor is toast myself.

I’ve already had it running. It ran great.

 

[Swblack1216]

Were the optional ether starting kits available for the diesel engines or the optional gas engine?

I don’t know. Good question maybe someone else has the answer

 

[Swblack1216]

Ford did not install ether start on gas engines

There is the answer

 

[careyo63]

In Ga.the Winter Temps. are in the 30's at night. I use a Diesel Yanmar. 15+Yrs.. 77 2Cyl. so it's far from new. I've only had to use a starting aid a couple times. Never going to use the Ether Unless I have no choice knowing what the risk is. What it uses is a Thermal Start. Heating Element that drips Diesel fuel on an Elec. Igniter in the Air Intake. The warm air helps the combustion. I've heard of other ways Block Heater. Even using a Hair Dryer. So may want to look into all the options. Or a few being in Alaska.
The Yanmar only gets used in grass cutting weather so it's not a problem. I'm working on a NTM Ford 2000. Gas. With a FEL on it. I plan to use it mostly in the winter clearing my wooded land. Doing good so far But Reverse has Quit.
"Again" SMDH... Pitiful how it happened!... I know how it happened for sure this time. I Did it.

Inside the Air cleaner.

My quick setup for when I have to use it.

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