FE35 Starter

[Phil Eastman]

I have a FE35 with the thermostart system. I have read somewhere to replace the original starter with a Ford starter which would crank the engine faster. Does anyone have that information and perhaps the number of the Ford starter I would need? I thank you in advance.

 

[John(UK)]

There has been some work done on the Head as well that improves the starting. You open up the entrance to the combustion chamber so the air flow can move more quickly in and out of the chamber, it is supposed to vastly.improve the Engine I think that the Starter you refer to is listed as a 3kw type...John(UK)

 

[samn40]

As John says opening up the ports does help starting but at the expense of loss of power and a smoky exhaust. Getting the compression as high as possible is the key. this may mean planing the top of the block flush with top of the pistons,ensuring good seating of the valves and correct pump timing, another trick is to machine out the top ring groove of the piston and fit a new heavy(standard) ring plus a used thin ring with the ring gaps staggered. This seems to work well.
The starter you need is from a Dorf 4000 diesel.
Sam

 

[Bill Brox]

Hi Phil,

Have you tried to type in Dorf 4000 ? Bad luck huh ?

A Ford starter that fits a Ford 2000, also fits a Ford 7000, and 6000, and 5000, and 3 and 4000, and many many many other Fords.

So, I would say it is more like John says, you need to find the biggest Ford starter there is.... in kW.
But, look out if there is enough space in front of the starter to get it fitted. I can not say if a Ford starter fits a 23C engine. Some says.
I suspect maybe there will be some enlarging of holes for the bolts.
In other words, it will not fit, but can be made to fit. You have to see.

Then, if you do as John says, enlarge the holes to the combustion chambers it starts easier. If you do as Sam says, you have enlarged the holes too much, and you have to get new parts to correct it. It is a hassle to fit new bits to the chambers. They are threaded in. And there is no place to unscrew them. They drill 2 holes in them, and make a tool with 2 pins in and that way you can remove the old ones.

Many things may help the 23C starting. All in all, an engine in good condition will start.

Be aware of the fact that the original 23C engines had 3 different pistons and liners, but only one size rings. So, the rings works fine for the F grade piston and liner, half good on the G grade piston and liner, and poorly on the H grade piston and liner.
An F grade liner give a fine ring gap, an H grade liner gives a worn out engine ring gap already when new.... so... well, you get the picture.


Bill

 

[Phil Eastman]

Thanks guys for all your help. I am waiting for my new Dorf (Ford) starter to get here. I will see what that does if anything. The engine was just overhauled when I bought the tractor. I"m hoping it won"t be a big problem in Texas where it never gets too cold. I"ll let you know.

 

[Dieseltech]

Compression heat is everything on Standard 23C diesel as has been mentioned. Have a 1958 TO-35 Standard diesel that at overhaul time put in new sleeve assemblies along with custom made to fit oversize valves from Deutz diesel to get all valves close to flush with head surface. Old valves were about .100 inch below flush, now all are within .020 flush with head. Will start with no preheat at 60 degrees or higher, still use thermostart otherwise. Still not like a Perkins but much better than it was.