Funny ether story

[Tony in SD]

A truck driver I met in another state told a story about his experience using ether. But before I tell you the story, you should know that all his friend had stories about this guy. They would always start the story by saying "I Love Dougy to death but he aint to bright." What he told me, as serious as could be, was; "When you spray ether in an air cleaner, what ever you do, make sure you have the can pointing in the right direction. You can't get that taste out of your mouth all day long!"

 

[kenbob]

Another: Sioux Falls, SD had its coldest winter on record around 1980. I was working late shift at the airport. It was so cold we would usually go out to start our cars on lunch break so they would start when we got off. One night during this we observed some traveler who had left his car in the lot during his trip. It would not start. He got a Jump, but still no start. He started spraying ether until we heard a loud bang. He blew a hole in his oil pan. Obviously the compression rings were bad enough to let ether into the crankcase. BOOM

 

[Mcrafty1]

I thought ether was for setting tire beads onto the rims

 

[Olfolks]

The new ether won’t hardly puff , it’s hard to find it above a 20% here. The good stuff for seating tires was the 50% or better, if you kicked it at the right time a 11.22.5 would jump 2 feet off the floor

 

[Mcrafty1]

The new ether won’t hardly puff , it’s hard to find it above a 20% here. The good stuff for seating tires was the 50% or better, if you kicked it at the right time a 11.22.5 would jump 2 feet off the floor

True, I've mounted many a truck tire ( and a few passenger vehicle tires) with ether. I now take my tires to the tire shop. This getting old,fat and lazy makes handling most tire less than desirable.

 

[JD Dave]

And, if I remember correctly, ether was used as an anesthetic. Seems I remember that smell when I had my tonsils out about 65 years ago.

 

[wore out]

Another: Sioux Falls, SD had its coldest winter on record around 1980. I was working late shift at the airport. It was so cold we would usually go out to start our cars on lunch break so they would start when we got off. One night during this we observed some traveler who had left his car in the lot during his trip. It would not start. He got a Jump, but still no start. He started spraying ether until we heard a loud bang. He blew a hole in his oil pan. Obviously the compression rings were bad enough to let ether into the crankcase. BOOM

Many years ago a local "mechanic" flooded his car in the bitter cold and gave it a bunch of ether with no joy.

He jacked it up and was heating the oil pan with a Big Bertha torch when the ether and gasoline vapors lit off.

It stretched out the oil pan over the bolt heads and blew valve cover and other gaskets.

 

[NDIHC]

I remember the cartoon where Buggs Bunny and I think Elmer Fudd got high from ether.

 

[DoubleO7]

Back in the day we would mount dune buggy tires on rims that were a lot wider than recommended. In order to get more floatation, we were running the side walls as part of the tread.
So getting the tires to seat "the normal way" was impossible without using ether in the process.

 

[Hemmjo]

This cartoon?

 

[moresmoke]

As someone that drove truck back and forth across the Canadian border, it was not possible to carry most personal protection products. However, there is no rule about spray cans of ether. It is as effective as pepper spray or mace. Even better if you happen to have a lit cigarette handy.

 

[Russ from MN]

My dad used to be very careful using ether, he was working in a logging camp that had a sawmill in the 1930's. They were trying start a big stationary engine one cold morning, and when it blew the piston and connecting rod came flying right through the wall of the engine shed, and out into the yard!

 

[DWF]

A guy told me that back in the 1940's they went to the drug store to buy ether for starting diesel engines. He said at that time there were no spay cans. I don't know what drug store ether was, vut that's what he said they used.
DWF

 

[NDIHC]

This cartoon?

Yup. For some reason I was thinking it was Elmer Fudd. Classic!

 

[RedMF40]

Not an ether story but this weekend I toured with my Model T Ford club in a friend’s car. Another member had a highly-modified Model A Ford with a lot of unusual accessories, including AC. It soon developed problems, began smoking, leaving a cloud of fumes for those following. When he was finally forced to pull over, the motor gave up with a huge BOOM that sent the dipstick and breather tube flying. He trailered the car home.

 

[cumminstinkerer]

I'll tell one on my dad, he was working on a greasy shaft that in the pinch we were in needed a bushing tacked to the shaft, only thing he can find to clean the grease off really well, sprayed it off on the bench, got everything ready to weld, struck the first arch and the whole bench lit up, stuff on the wall and all over was on fire, took a bit to get the fires out, once done we laughed our butts off!

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

My dad used to be very careful using ether, he was working in a logging camp that had a sawmill in the 1930's. They were trying start a big stationary engine one cold morning, and when it blew the piston and connecting rod came flying right through the wall of the engine shed, and out into the yard!

At least it was easy to get to.

Mike

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

A guy told me that back in the 1940's they went to the drug store to buy ether for starting diesel engines. He said at that time there were no spay cans. I don't know what drug store ether was, vut that's what he said they used.
DWF

They would pour some on cotton wadding that was on a stick & hold it in front of the intake. You could also use engine oil or kerosene if it was warmer out.

Mike

That reminds me of this video. The warm weather starting procedure starts at around 9:34 in to it.

 

[super99]

A guy told me that back in the 1940's they went to the drug store to buy ether for starting diesel engines. He said at that time there were no spay cans. I don't know what drug store ether was, vut that's what he said they used.
DWF

In the late 50's Dad had a M diesel. He had a glass jar with a lid on it with ether balls in it. They were bigger than a gum ball and he would drop one in the precleaner jar when it was cold out to help start it.

 

[Harold Hubbard]

And, if I remember correctly, ether was used as an anesthetic. Seems I remember that smell when I had my tonsils out about 65 years ago.

Story dredged up from my memories as a kid, local doctor on a house call almost wrecked his car because the ether bottle leaked and almost put him to sleep.