Date sent: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 19:38:54 -0800 From: Aarons family <52m37@alaska.net> Organization: mpfc To: dtlc@helios.net Subject: Re: [DTLC] Ether start-aid Send reply to: dtlc@helios.net My direct injection glowplug-less Hercules diesels have a very neat ether cold start system. The ether is in a metal canister just like on of those 10-12 oz. propane cylinders for a hand held torch. It goes onto a threaded fitting with an O-ring or seal. The fitting has a solenoid-operated plunger that operates with a push button the dash. The ground is through a thermostatically controlled switch to prevent use when hot. The "shot" of ether then goes through a thin plastic tube thru an atomizer into the intake manifold. Quantity is limited to a maximum amount and the ether is vaporized, avoiding excessive cylinder lube wash-down. It's probably safe on any direct injection heavy duty lower compression ratio (14.5-18:1) engine. NEVER use ether with a glow plug engine. Spraying with a can gives uncertain amounts. My Perkins has a CAV "Coldstart" which is a nichrome wire coil and a thermostatically actuated valve which allows raw fuel to drip over the red hot coil. when the engine is cranked, it bursts into flame. Crude, but safe and surprisingly effective. Obviously not to be used with ether, although OK to use ether in it if the Coldstart isn't used. Last winter I used one canister of ether on the M37's Hercules, I was driving it daily since I was waiting for parts for the BJ40. Probably about 150-200 starts, including some cold evenings when it cooled the motor down below +40 F. Charlie 500 UPPL Rúnar Sigurjónsson wrote: > A nono on glow-screen engines. Or actually a Booom, Booom on glow-screen > engines....:-) > > Donno about glow-plug engines. > > Stock standard on older MB-engines. > > Cheers > Runar. > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Willem-Jan Markerink [SMTP:w.j.markerink@a1.nl] > > Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 1999 11:22 AM > > To: dtlc@helios.net > > Subject: [DTLC] Ether start-aid > > > > Mike, I vaguely recall a warning from you when spraying ether in the > > intake manifold, trying to start a sluggish diesel....wasn't that > > only safe *while* cranking? > > Had something to do with the glow plugs, right? > > Probably a complete nono with glow-screen air pre-heaters on direct > > injectors? > > I just saw this ether-tip again on a Dutch newsgroup, but this guy > > works mostly with heavy Caterpillar engines, which might be totally > > different in risk.... > > > > > > > > -- > > Bye, > > > > Willem-Jan Markerink > > > > > > The desire to understand > > is sometimes far less intelligent than > > the inability to understand > > > > > > > > [note: 'a-one' & 'en-el'!]