Starting fluid ?

[scesnick]

Arthr31,

I am in the Western Md. Mountains on the Wv. Border. at about 3,000 ft. it gets cold on the farm and the wind just howls !!! It has been around 15 deg. for a high the last week or so.

I do have power to the toggle switch, I know because it's the kind that lights up when it is on. I think GreatRandini has it right when he said that someone probably left the switch on and burned up the elelment.
How much are the new ones and where can i get one???
I would just like to take a minute and say that you guys are a great help. ****, I would still be shutting down my tractor with the decompression lever if it wasn't for you guys !! ( lol )
I

 

[mark777]

Art -

LOL...Actually I meant they are using the propane gas (no flame) by injecting it into the intake. Never thought about the heat source from the torch itself..

Mark

 

[arthr31]

Hi Mark,
heh... Didn't even think about just using the gas from the propane tank... Fortunately I don't have to use the flame anymore (not at least this year so far...)

scesnick, you can get the thermostart element from one of the dealers who frequent this site. I happened to get mine from hoye tractor (hoyetractor.com). If I remember correctly, it costs about $75

-art

 

[Cord]

The older diesel tractors actually came from the factory with starting fluid assist. You pushed a button on the dash to activate the system. I believe the user timed it. The bottle was mounted upside down right on the engine. The critical level is not so much fluid that you get liquid in the engine, but enough to create the required heat to ignite the diesel fuel. A quick pfft into the intake (with the air cleaner removed) when cranking will be ok.

 

[ym2610]

Thanks HGM for your post, I have been starting mine wrong, I would pull the decompression handle, let the oil pressure build, then push it back in and pull the throttle lever then start it, show what a dummy can learn on here, start much faster and easier when you pull the decompression handle and the throttle lever, let the oil pressure build, then push the decompression handle back in, I couldn't believe the difference, but if this is wrong someone please tell me /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. Thanks Robert

 

[justanotherjoe]

To help on cold starts (my thermostart is dead):
1) Change to full synthetic oil in crankcase because thin oil lets engine crank faster
2) Block heater in lower radiator hose, plugged in for several hours before cranking, warm thin oil lets engine crank faster. The electric, oil-filled radiator under the tractor, under a tarp sounds like a good idea.
3) Trickle charge battery night before, charging warms the battery a little, higher voltage helps it crank faster. Clean terminals at both ends of positive and negative cables.
4) Use decompression lever, because it lets the engine crank faster. Read Yanmar owner's manual for procedure.
5) Use powerservice fuel additive with antigel. Set throttle to maximum to start, reduce to half as soon as engine catches.
6) Get a hair dryer (yard sale or Walmart. not your wife's). Remove entire air cleaner assembly. Run hot air into intake to warm intake and for engine to suck warm air when cranking. Hold hair dryer on intake while cranking and until engine catches, you need an assistant for this. Hair dryer running and starting fluid is explosive fire hazard.
8) Ether was an extreme solvent, starting fluid is too, but not as bad. Solvent is not what you want on your cylinder walls. WD40 might be a good substitute.
9) After cranking the engine (decompression with left hand)to get lube and fuel moving, I use ONE short squirt of starting fluid, sprayed at the intake with my left hand, WHILE the engine is cranking. You can hear the engine suddenly rev up from combustion of the start fluid (that is abusing a cold engine.) Do not ever spray start fluid into a engine , then crank it, that is how to break something.
10) On a cold morning, begin early on these procedures, be patient, there is no good, quick way to start a worn, older diesel engine. Hurrying or using shortcuts may cause you to damage your tractor.

 

[HGM]

Good god man.............Where do you live? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Sounds like you need to make an appointment to start your tractor /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif..

I started mine in cold weather for the first time the other day(19*F).. It was sllooowwww, but with the decompression it wasnt bad. I would like to get a block heater, where did you get the one in your radiator hose? I have also read about a magnetic heater on the oil pan that sounds like a good idea, one or the other should work well.

 

[mark777]

I would seriously consider repairing or replacing the thermostart system on your tractor. That is just too much time and work involved combating the elements for a cold start procedure.

Not sure what temperatures your dealing with, and I understand the trickle charge, pre-heat exterior especially if you only use your tractor occasionally...like a couple times a month but that seams like an unpleasant ritual just to get her going /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Mark

 

[scesnick]

I think I solved my cold start problem.

* sold my wood eating outdoor furnace.
* built a 30x40 INSULATED pole building
* installed an AHS coal/wood/oil boiler to heat it. ( and the house)
* Parked the Yanmar inside a nice warm building.
Problem Solved !
It was a tad more expensive than a thermostart but worth the money.

 

[cwarrix]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think I solved my cold start problem.

* sold my wood eating outdoor furnace.
* built a 30x40 INSULATED pole building
* installed an AHS coal/wood/oil boiler to heat it. ( and the house)
* Parked the Yanmar inside a nice warm building.
Problem Solved !
It was a tad more expensive than a thermostart but worth the money. )</font>

That should solve your problem alright! Just a tad more expensive than a thermostart /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif