The IH 282 diesel engine is an indirect injection diesel. It has a glow plug in each cylinder's pre-combustion chamber, and the glow plugs and wiring need to be up to snuff and used for every start, year around. If you are using ether instead of the glow plugs, you will damage the engine. Not if, but when. This engine will not tolerate a steady diet of ether.
Best advise I can give is fix it if necessary, learn how to start it properly, or sell it before you trash the engine.