Ether Stuff

I was in Lowe"s tonight and saw in the lawnmower section ether - supposedly makes lawnmowers start easier. I recall seeing posts about this stuff to help stubborn 8Ns to start. What is the skinny on using this on an 8N - is it safe for the 8N? Is it dangerous? Do you spay into the air cleaner or do you spray into the spark plug holes? What would cause the need for someone to use this on an 8N...weak sparks? Dell?
 
You would spray some into your air cleaner just prior to turning it over...IF your ignition and fuel system are snuffed up properly you should never need any unless you wanna give a little snort in real cold weather to start a little quicker and save some cranking in the battery.
Gotta watch it with desiels...saw a guy spray some in his case backhoe then hop on and hit the glow plugs...POW ruined motor!
 
Ether is one thing,, cheap starting fluid is another. will not harm 8n.
diesels must be started with extreme care, not for amatuers.
 
I have read in previous posts about using propane gas through the carb to help start an engine. I was wondering if this would work spraying it into the air cleaner. Seems like it could be a great help for cold weather starting.
 
BS is not a good term for this forum. Its rude.

A lot of diesls have been damaged by starting fluid,,, they ruined mine. One must be smart and careful. Both deisels at my local golf course were ruined by teenagers, who knew nothing of fluid and glow plugs.
 
(quoted from post at 07:28:33 02/12/09) BS is not a good term for this forum. Its rude.

A lot of diesls have been damaged by starting fluid,,, they ruined mine. One must be smart and careful. Both deisels at my local golf course were ruined by teenagers, who knew nothing of fluid and glow plugs.
i:f4e4963f04][b:f4e4963f04]

Ron; Not withstanding Bob's way of reply, (I fig. that is his buis),
But, I will say this, in relation to the second part of your reply.
Out of the 4 tractors we have at my FIL's ranch, 3 of them are deisels, and they all have a container on them,(manufactor installed), for ether injection, to be used for starting. They even have a Manufacture instruction plate mounted, right next to these cans, on all 3 tractors.
We have used starting fluid, and ether in these units for years, with NO ill effects.
I'm thinking that the units are placed there, for a GOOD reason. Out of the 3 tractors, one is an old D-7 Cat., and has had ether run through it for starting, almost constantly, and has never had the engine overhauled.
My FIL has owned this CAT, for as long as he has owned the ranch(over 35 yrs.) with NO prob.s, with the exeption of a slight prob. to the crank handle(wore out), for the pony motor.

Problems with starting fluid and ether starting?????
On deisel engine, that we have......Non-existing!!!!!!!!!

JMHO

Gary :) [/b:f4e4963f04][/i:f4e4963f04]
 
(quoted from post at 12:02:16 02/12/09)
(quoted from post at 07:28:33 02/12/09) BS is not a good term for this forum. Its rude.

A lot of diesls have been damaged by starting fluid,,, they ruined mine. One must be smart and careful. Both deisels at my local golf course were ruined by teenagers, who knew nothing of fluid and glow plugs.
i:7b7c5e4240][b:7b7c5e4240]

Ron; Not withstanding Bob's way of reply, (I fig. that is his buis),
But, I will say this, in relation to the second part of your reply.
Out of the 4 tractors we have at my FIL's ranch, 3 of them are deisels, and they all have a container on them,(manufactor installed), for ether injection, to be used for starting. They even have a Manufacture instruction plate mounted, right next to these cans, on all 3 tractors.
We have used starting fluid, and ether in these units for years, with NO ill effects.
I'm thinking that the units are placed there, for a GOOD reason. Out of the 3 tractors, one is an old D-7 Cat., and has had ether run through it for starting, almost constantly, and has never had the engine overhauled.
My FIL has owned this CAT, for as long as he has owned the ranch(over 35 yrs.) with NO prob.s, with the exeption of a slight prob. to the crank handle(wore out), for the pony motor.

Problems with starting fluid and ether starting?????
On deisel engine, that we have......Non-existing!!!!!!!!!

JMHO

Gary :) [/b:7b7c5e4240][/i:7b7c5e4240]
inda like beer & other spirits, expect it can be over done.
 
[b:b867fd17b4][i:b867fd17b4]

JMOR;
You said: "Kinda like beer & other spirits, expect it can be over done."

Exactly!!!!.... Thus, the instruction plates, mounted on the engines!!

Gary :) [/i:b867fd17b4][/b:b867fd17b4]
 
Amateurs: "People that have no idea what thy
are doing"

My experience with amateurs.
Called out for a no start by another road call repairman's company. Could not get a Mack R model started. Starter(air starter)moving slower each try. Found out the truck had just stopped for a drop off, and serviceman tried to start with starting fluid (2 and 1/2 cans worth!) When I got there, the engine was still hot to touch, and was out of fuel. Engine would not turn over, and later found out from Mack that when the head was removed, 2pistons had melted tops and the whole thing stunk of starting fluid. Too much "ether" will lock up a diesel, and should be used sparingly. If any engine fails to start after a few toots of starting fluid look for the best reason why it won't start
 
I did my apprenticeship in a truck shop, either was a nono,if the Forman saw any on the shelf he would throw it out.

FoMoCo recommends hairspray or spray paint to fire up a fresh rebuild,
we would always plug in the block heater and bleed as much air as we could from the rails
usually worked.

that being said, an 8n has low enough compression that if you held the can sideways and a foot from the air cleaner and gave a 1/2 second squirt it would work also,

either=bad
 
"A lot of diesls have been damaged by starting fluid,,, they ruined mine."

May I ask a couple of questions...

Who's "they"? (Kids? Employees?)

How much ether did they use?

How many hours on the "ruined" engine?
 
I've seen many get ruined and some had new or rebuilt engines. Especially true for non-turbo diesels that often have more brittle piston rings.

In regard to who? Owners/users that had equipment parked where no electricity was availble for electric block heaters.
 
Electric controlled ether cannisters usually send ether through a small orifice that controls how much gets into the inake. That's quite different than when someone sprays ether from a can directly into an air intake - and I've seen many diesels get ruined from it.

How the heck did this get into a 9N forum? I don't see to many of them around with diesel engines.
 
Most starting fluid made now has lubricants incorporated in it to not dry the cylinder walls too fast, as ether will cut away oil and cause ring scoring. It is OK to use in a 8N. Ask your self, is it not turning over quick enough? Is it getting GOOD spark? Is getting fuel? Giving it started with a snort every first time of the day you first use it, just indicates that there are underlying problems. there's no reason that a 2-9- or 8N in GOOD mechanical condition should need starting fluid to start, even in winter.
 
Ever been around a 4960 DEERE that's being started with a (measured shot) from the factory ether injection system?

NOT for the "faint of heart"!

WHAT a racket, but doesn't seem to harm anything.
 
you"re right. I"m 15 years old, and we got a diesel this summer with a rebuilt engine. I had maybe 30 seconds instruction on how to start the thing. I"m doing just fine thus far.
That being said, you know why the engine was rebuilt? Apparently, the engine had spun backwards, and needed a rebuild... Know why it spun backwards? ETHER!
 
My fathers backhoe was buggered from using ether on it. We had used it for years and all was well. Then that one time it got a little too much and ended up bending a valve. Had the topend rebuilt. Mechanic said it was fine to use ether - but- only when the engine is turning. In another words crank then spray while cranking. I would think this is to allow the stuff to work through without building up and then one large bang.
 
To start a diesel use a rag with gasoline on it over intake works well. Or a squirt from a plastic bottle with a few small holes in top made with ice pick. Started many that way. Good block heater still the best for all parts.
Brad
 

For some reason "Bob" decided to make this a personal thing rather than take the time to explain his opinion in a polite forum.

Two-stroke engines, even diesels, will easily be ruined using ether or starting fluid. This is because the ether/start-fluid can get below the piston into the crankcase and when it's ignited....BLOOOIIEEE!
 
Even tho we were very careful to instruct our employees on its use and when, if ever to use it we did some head, piston, and head bolt replacements all needing gaskets. After a few such employee errors we banned its use.
 
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