Thermostart cold start aid questions

I have an older MF 811 diesel skid loader, tons of hours and starts real hard when cold (yes I know, permanent fix would be rebuild entire injection setup and rest of engine). I was wondering if the "thermostart" setup like the MF 65 diesels had were easily retrofitted to other applications- if there were others that have tried this I would love to hear from you before I started plumbing one up myself. I hate to use either if at all possible, and a block heater takes 2 hours to have much of any effect.
Thanks in advance for any insight.

Well... let's pretend it's colder than a witch's ......something ... outside. Let's pretend you are out of possible options... you need that skid steer going yesterday. The dollar store has starting fluid on sale... for 99 cents... what would you do then?

Intake manifold may or may not have the Thermostart port. How about using a timer on the block heater, that's what my dad does on his loader tractor in wintertime that he feeds cattle with.

Hi,
All good suggestions below but I'd have to disagree with Tony about the starting fluid!!!!!!
There are a number of things that you can do which will help;
1. Ensure that the correct grade of engine oil for your location is used.
2. If you have a winter type diesel available use that.
3. Remove the battery and keep it in a warmer location over night. It may be a pain having to refit the battery but it should at least give you full cranking speed.
4. Ensure that the starter motor is in tip-top condition.
5. Ensure that all cable connections are sound and that all cables are heavy enough not to loose current through warming.
6. Many have found to their cost the result of putting a naked flame heat source under the engine. An electric lamp of some sort that will give off significant heat switched on a couple of hours before starting might help.

Just a side thought here. Wonder is anyone has ever tried anything like this? It would be interesting to know. A source of warm air aimed close to the air intake as the engine is being turned over, such as you would get from an electric hot air gun. That might help.

As dieseltech has said the fitting of a thermostart will depend on whether you have the port which is about 1" in diameter in the inlet manifold. If you do you will need to ensure that only a measured amount of fuel can run into the manifold at each activation. Too much fuel and the engine might 'hydraulic'.

Hope this helps.

DavidP, South Wales

I hate using ether, in the past I"ve been the guy that fixes the cracked rings and " burnt" pistons as a result of using ether. I believe that there is a plug on the intake I could use, not sure if it"s the same size exactly, but chances are it is since this has a perkins diesel also. I just wish I had the spare$1500 to rebuild, moral of the story is that it is amazing it still starts and runs at all with 7200 hours on it, all original. I"ll compare manifolds with our mf65 and see if it"s at all similar. thanks everyone
Richard

I agree with Dieseltech, That would be your best method or you could try WD40 as a starting fluid.

I have used the hot air gun.
Block heater cord had fell out of socket and I had my wooleys on reader to push snow.
Pulled the plug from the intake where the starting heater would be installed and pointed the heat gun in. Left it a couple minutes fired up easy. MF180

This is like the plough thread on the fergie forum. location location location.
In my long and miserable life in many parts of the planet.... I have seen people freeze parts of their bodies off for hours on end in the most miserable of weather, after they spent untold money on machinery that won't start in cold weather anyway.
Then I see people who need to get to work as soon as possible with a particular machine that used a squirt of starting fluid, get the job done, go back in the house and spend the money the diesel engine would need to -perhaps- start on its own...
Yes. I prefer tospend that money heating the house for human beings.... so that's why I do what I do!
Rather than a tour of Ireland in April, maybe Sam can arrange a tour of Canada in February.... you guys will see what I am talking about...

I use a Coleman catalytic heater on a 20 Lb propane cylinder for my 205 Industrial. Just fire it up and set it on low and put it on the left side of the engine for about an hour. Takes off like summer.

I've used a blow dryer in the air intake before.