Learned what ether lock is

[Looking4new]

It was a great story. He is lucky to still be alive to tell it.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Anybody notice that this was a poor BX1500, it only is a little Z602 2 cylinder engine and the battery could barely crank it??

David

 

[Dave M7040]

When desperate, use a hair dryer blowing directly into the intake manifold, remove the air filter. The engine will have a much easier time getting ignition of the fuel when it is inhaling warm air.
A block heater is the best answer in the long term to prolong the life of the starter and engine internals.
Dave M7040

 

[Tx Jim]

Glow plugs are usually (always?) installed in the intake manifold outside the cylinder. If that is where you want the combustion to take place then go ahead and spray ether into the intake...

If you will look at your BX2230 you will find the glow plugs(parts key #140 in parts catalog PN 16851-65512) screwed into the cyl head not the intake manifold. All engines that I've seen with glow plugs have them in cyl head. Thermo-start heating elements are in the intake which are different from GP's

 

[GPintheMitten]

So, did anyone else notice in his story that he shovelled a path wide enough for the tractor on the way to the barn?

Now that's a story.

 

[Tor Arne]

ether is the equal to heroine to a engine, it will over time make the engine depends on it to start. Someone I know had a JD skidder which in the end had to have a half a can of ether to start even in mid summer

 

[cqaigy2]

ether is the equal to heroine to a engine, it will over time make the engine depends on it to start. Someone I know had a JD skidder which in the end had to have a half a can of ether to start even in mid summer

Nah, ether gets used more and more on engines that have issues to start with. (no pun intended) It won't fix an engine so if one doesn't do repairs, it will get harder and harder to start. If used judiciously, it's an aid to starting and will reduce wear and tear on starting system. I don't think i'd characterize half a can as such use. :laughing:

I know i've related this incident before, but i remember one cold day, probably somewhere in the teens F., when a number of us were milling around outside and shooting the breeze. A buddy of mine was going to try and start his pos pickup. He had to use ether for some time now. So he pops the air cleaner off, spray a large dose of ether into the intake, jumps back in and gives the starter a touch and BANG! We all hit the ground, face down in the snow. I got up and walked over to the truck, look into the engine and notice it was missing the valve cover off one side. It had been blown off the engine and hit the hood of the truck. Put a nice dent into it too. We laughed so hard we almost fell down.:laughing: RIP truck.

 

[batwing]

Spray a little WD40 works pretty good, agree heater is best for the engine.
Ron

 

[skyhook]

double post, sorry.

 

[skyhook]

If you will look at your BX2230 you will find the glow plugs(parts key #140 in parts catalog PN 16851-65512) screwed into the cyl head not the intake manifold. All engines that I've seen with glow plugs have them in cyl head. Thermo-start heating elements are in the intake which are different from GP's

Exactly, glow plugs are in the cylinders, never introduce either while the glow plug is "on",
and if needed, only one little spray, if that won't start it, get the shovels out...lol

 

[Recoveryhill]

To all who post that "a little ether" is ok, sorry, you are wrong. Any use of ether in these engines is destructive. It doesn't matter if it is introduced when the glow plug is on or off. The explosive nature of this volatile compound produces combustion pressures beyond what the engine was designed to contain. Probably a cracked piston head is the most likely result but broken rings, cylinder or head/valve damage is quite possible.

The "squirt a little ether" into a modern small displacement diesel engine advice is the same as "pour a little gasoline on the woodpile" fire starting advice.

Full battery charge, healthy glow plugs, clean air filter, properly treated fuel for cold weather and a block heater for extreme cold will start a diesel engine with proper compression, every time. If yours won't start, check the above and correct, including a compression check.

 

[Tx Jim]

To all who post that "a little ether" is ok, sorry, you are wrong. Any use of ether in these engines is destructive. It doesn't matter if it is introduced when the glow plug is on or off. The explosive nature of this volatile compound produces combustion pressures beyond what the engine was designed to contain. Probably a cracked piston head is the most likely result but broken rings, cylinder or head/valve damage is quite possible.

The "squirt a little ether" into a modern small displacement diesel engine advice is the same as "pour a little gasoline on the woodpile" fire starting advice.

Full battery charge, healthy glow plugs, clean air filter, properly treated fuel for cold weather and a block heater for extreme cold will start a diesel engine with proper compression, every time. If yours won't start, check the above and correct, including a compression check.

I totally agree. I've seen too many engines ruined from misuse of ether.

 

[skyhook]

Well, everyone has their own opinion.
Like I said, a little squirt 'mist" is all that should be used, if needed.
When your out in the middle of nowhere, can't do all the mentioned above,
it's your only option to get it going.
Many backhoe's and tractor trailers come equipped with auto "either' injection, when need.
The key is, be carefull and use very little.
PS, I have used a little help with woodpiles, gas, diesel fuel, whatever i needed to get it started.
Moderation and common sense is the key.

 

[DK35vince]

Machines I have seen that have diesel engines equipped with glow plugs has a waning label on it to never use starting fluid or an explosion may occur.

 

[RoMad]

I also wondered why he shovelled a path wide enough for the tractor. If the tractor wouln't make it's own path through the snow you might as well leave it in the barn and go back in the house and drink beer where it's warm.

 

[easygo]

I never tried using beer for cold starts. I learned something I will use in the future. :thumbsup::drink:

 

[TexasBoy]

Ether is like crack cocaine to a diesel. Just say NO. The compression figures are just too high.

 

[Leejohn]

So, did anyone else notice in his story that he shovelled a path wide enough for the tractor on the way to the barn?

Now that's a story.

Yes I did and as I read a little more, it must of been the beer before hand. It made me remember what the guy across the street did one time. I seen him leave for work and in a little while seen him walling back. He got his gas can walled back and I be d--- here he came back with the gas can put it in his shop, then walked back to his car.

 

[RaydaKub]

If you will look at your BX2230 you will find the glow plugs(parts key #140 in parts catalog PN 16851-65512) screwed into the cyl head not the intake manifold. All engines that I've seen with glow plugs have them in cyl head. Thermo-start heating elements are in the intake which are different from GP's

There are several 'how things work' pages out there. I just didn't bother until now. I was told how glow plugs worked ages ago and just accepted it as gospel. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[batwing]

I totally agree. I've seen too many engines ruined from misuse of ether.

Try WD40 it works very well.
Ron