Starting fluid ?

scesnick · Dec 20, 2005

I tried the thermo start system but it did nothing. No fuel even left the little bottle on top of the motor. How do you know if it is working? Does something get hot? Can you hear it? I have no idea...

pruntyc · Dec 20, 2005

To see if it is working just take the air cleaner off, and while holding the key to the left, thermostart position, you should see a thing that looks like a cigarette lighter from a car, get red. Then you should see a little flame, like a match burning, if its getting fuel. If it is working and you use the compression release, you shouldn't have any problem starting it. If you do then you need a heater for the water, in block or in hose.

fig · Dec 20, 2005

If your thermostart is not working; do what cwarrix said. I have a 1700 with no thermostart and no block heater. The first winter I had the tractor; I tried starting with about half throttle and it seemed to take for ever to start (temps 20's - 30's).

This has been discussed before and I took the advice of California (I think it was you California) about starting with the throttle wide open and backing off immediately after it starts.

After turning over with the decompression lever pulled, building oil pressure, full throttle, and then releasing the lever; mine will start in temps in the 20's without much fuss. After starting I will let it sit and idle for 10 - 15 minutes to get some heat built up. It works for me.

Newton

EastTexFrank · Dec 20, 2005

I think that this has been discussed before. Try a search and see what you come up with. In general starting fluid is not a good thing for diesels, especially those with glow plugs. Having said that, we have an old JD 820 that has a fitting for injecting starting fluid while you crank it. To be safe, don't do it. It can make a helluva mess if you use too much.

Egon · Dec 20, 2005

Sure hate to try it on a diesel with pre air heaters [ direct injection type ]. The glow plug type [ indirect injection ] in moderation with much knowledge.

Never in a carburated gas engine as backfires can occur. One of my friends died in this type of situation.

coolant heaters do wonders to alleviate cold starting problems.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

HGM · Dec 20, 2005

You should see what it will do the the intake of a Powerstroke when the guy forgets to disable the glow plugs /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif..... It becomes a bomb and ends up in about a thousand pieces....

Really, I dont believe you should ever use it, but I do understand it can assist in cold weather starting... There are other options.

6or7dazeaweek · Dec 20, 2005

Scesnick: Good advice from all of the posters. Please heed.

My experience with starting fluid goes back many years. I had an HG42 Oliver orchard crawler which usually started up fine. This one particular morning it was being persnickety and not firing. I popped the cap on the magneto & it was pretty wet inside with moisture. I always heard that alcohol would absorb moisture, so I grabbed the can of starting ether & sprayed the inside of the cap and snapped it back into place. The next thing I heard was this loud bang and my 7 year old Son saying that something flew right by his ear. Getting off the crawler I discovered that half of the magneto cover was gone...just narrowly missing my Son. Lesson learned in a heartbeat. I can't imagine flying engime parts but I guess it could really happen.

Glow plugs and or block heater my friend. Been there! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

arthr31 · Dec 21, 2005

Scesnick, all good advice here.

I live in MA, sometimes it gets like arctic cold with the winds blowing from the north (with windchill, can be like -10F or more...)

Maybe your thermostart isn't working. You wouldn't know if any diesel left the resevoir, since it is nothing more than a drip. If you take the air intake hose off the intake manifold, you should see a puff of white smoke, or as Dick mentioned a coil getting hot. This can also sound like a slight "pooof" or "pooopp" as it is being ignited.

In my tractors most coldest moments I cover with a tarp and put an electric heater under there on high for an hour or so...

As others have said, ether / starting fluid is bad... for both you and the equipment..

Also, have you added some PowerService to your fuel? This'll help the fuel by raising the cetane level which will make it more combustable as a fuel...

Good luck!! -Art

scesnick · Dec 22, 2005

O.K This may be a dumb queston but, I'm gonna ask anyway. This decompression lever, is it the same lever that shuts down the motor? or am I missing something???

mark777 · Dec 22, 2005

You can use the decompression handle, but its a little hard on the exhaust valves and not the normal procedure to shut down. Throttle lever fully forward (or back depending on the model) and the engine will (should) stop. If it doesn't, then a simple linkage adjustment should be made.

Mark