starting a diesel?

Mr. T. Minnesota · Apr 24, 2014

Forum Members,
Tried to start the '65 HD3 Allis today and had no luck. It was 40 degrees and cool rain!
A friend of mine said diesels can be stubborn to start in cooler and cold weather. Does anyone have hints on starting an older version diesel engine. Thinking of plugging in the tank heater to make it an easier start. Does that seem to be a good path to take? Any and all thoughts are welcome.
Mr. T. Minnesota

TheOldHokie · Apr 24, 2014

(quoted from post at 13:04:01 04/24/14) Forum Members,
Tried to start the '65 HD3 Allis today and had no luck. It was 40 degrees and cool rain!
A friend of mine said diesels can be stubborn to start in cooler and cold weather. Does anyone have hints on starting an older version diesel engine. Thinking of plugging in the tank heater to make it an easier start. Does that seem to be a good path to take? Any and all thoughts are welcome.
Mr. T. Minnesota

Forty isn't real cold - do you have a good strong battery and was it cranking pretty good? My problems usually start when it gets cold enough to slow the starter down. What starting aids, if any, does the Allis have - glow plugs, decompress, etc??? If it's cold it never hurts to warm the oil to speed cranking.

TOH

souNdguy · Apr 24, 2014

was she making any smoke when cranking?

Tiger Joe · Apr 24, 2014

we have two old diesel machines, one has glow plugs, one does not.

if it has glow plugs, turn them on and leave them on for at least 2-3 minutes before trying to start. our old warm out engine will always fire up like this

if it doesnt have glow plugs, you might have to use starting fluid. i know may diesel guys say never to spray starting fluid into a diesel, but my dad has an Allis Chalmers HG7 and it says in the manual to use a shot of starting fluid

editing to add: I just reread your post and saw you have an Allis too. even in 90+ degree weather, my dads will NOT start for the first time of the day without a shot of fluid.

even in the cold temps all winter, a good anti-gel in the tank and strong batteries, shot of fluid and it fires up. when its really cold we sometimes have to keep spraying fluid to keep it running at first until it chugs to life

oldtanker · Apr 24, 2014

Very little starting fluid! Really not much more than a sniff!

friend had a tractor with a glow plug diesel. If you run that tractor all morning regardless of out side temps, shut it off for lunch and you have to use the glow plugs 30 minutes later. Kinda strange when it's 80 out.

If your engine has glow plugs DO NOT USE EITHER if you are also using the glow plugs system.

Rick

Mr. T. Minnesota · Apr 24, 2014

TJ,
The '65 HD3 does not have glow plugs. When attempting to start I used a small amount of starting fluid. Sounds like I need to use a lot more. In the actual use of starting fluid, where should this be added to the system. Currently just spraying it into the air intake breather cap. This may not be reaching the location needed to be useful! Are there any other tips you can offer?
Mr. T. Minnesota

Mr. T. Minnesota · Apr 24, 2014

SG,
No smoke?
Mr. T. Minnesota

Greg_Ky · Apr 24, 2014

No smoke = no fuel

Tiger Joe · Apr 24, 2014

(quoted from post at 15:55:16 04/24/14) TJ,
The '65 HD3 does not have glow plugs. When attempting to start I used a small amount of starting fluid. Sounds like I need to use a lot more. In the actual use of starting fluid, where should this be added to the system. Currently just spraying it into the air intake breather cap. This may not be reaching the location needed to be useful! Are there any other tips you can offer?
Mr. T. Minnesota

i think you are spraying in the correct spot. on our 7g sitting in the "driver seat" you are starring at the air filter, there is a cap on the lower right side. pull it off and give it a shot.

our system for starting which seems to work for us-
1 get in, turn batteries on
2 with fuel still off (throttle lever all the way down) spin the motor over a few seconds
3 give it some throttle, and with your left hand hit the starter button and with your right give it a shot of ether. depending on the temp you might give it a quick 1/2 second shot, or a 2-3 second shot.

if its warm out ours will chug to life after the first shot. if its cold, we usually have to give it a shot every few seconds until it "catches" so to speak.

Tiger Joe · Apr 24, 2014

also, my dad found our machine likes the cheapest starting fluid you can buy. dont waste money on fancy pants "premium" fluid.

Mr. T. Minnesota · Apr 24, 2014

TOH,
The engine has not been run for a while. There are no aids to help it out except for the tank heater which I will use tomorrow. The engine does turn at a fair rate, not fast at any means. Did bleed the injectors to make sure the fuel got to the injectors. As stated in another reply I made, where could/should the starter fluid be fed into the system? I am going to try to get closer to the intake manifold. Any other info is appreciated. My dead line is the 28th to bid on the HD3. Thanks!
Mr. T. Minnesota

souNdguy · Apr 24, 2014

yep no fuel

Tiger Joe · Apr 24, 2014

(quoted from post at 16:12:33 04/24/14) yep no fuel

he just said he has fuel at the injectors...

Mr. T. Minnesota · Apr 24, 2014

Greg,
There was no smoke! Another variable is that I just bled the injector lines today after years of not running. When turning over fuel came to the loosened connections. Will try again tomorrow, maybe in the snow in central Minnesota. Novice question, the fuel system seems to be gravity fed, no electric fuel pump, does an injector pump pull and push fuel through the system? Any and all thoughts welcome.
Mr. T. Minnesota

Greg_Ky · Apr 24, 2014

Does it have a Detroit in it? My uncle had a 5 that Haida Detroit.

Mr. T. Minnesota · Apr 24, 2014

Greg,
Not sure what the engine is. All I know is it is 4 cylinders. Have heard of the Detroit, but thought that was 2 cylinders. How does one find out the engine manufacturer?
Mr. T. Minnesota

Colin King · Apr 24, 2014

Maybe he'll chime in here, but fellow Minnesotan YT member Paul in MN gave me some cold starting tips on my diesel this winter. Crank the engine, and while cranking give it just a sniff (just like Oldtanker explained) of ether. I practiced before actually trying it on the engine. Barely touch the aerosol can button. That's been working very well for me.

Colin, MN

Jimmyjack · Apr 24, 2014

The faster a diesel turns over the easier it starts, any thing you can do to spin it fast will help. A good battery is most important.

Tiger Joe · Apr 24, 2014

There is no fuel pump. Your injection pump on the side on the block will pull fuel from the tank and push it thru the lines to the injectors. On our 7 there is a plug you can pull out of the fuel line where it exits the tank to drain any water.

I'm telling you straight up this motor will need more than a sniff of ether to start. Without having any glow plugs you HAVE to get ether in there. Also remember if you spray into the air cleaner it has a long way to go to the combustion chamber.

And as a frame of reference for my "creds" I drive a 700 hp duramax diesel everyday so I know a little about diesels

Ronnie Graves · Apr 25, 2014

first get a shop towel (red cloth or blue paper blend) soak it with GASOLINE get on the machine and hold it to the air in take till its running good , the gasoline wont lock like the eather will

jennifer408 · Apr 26, 2014

(quoted from post at 22:10:51 04/24/14) first get a shop towel (red cloth or blue paper blend) soak it with GASOLINE get on the machine and hold it to the air in take till its running good , the gasoline wont lock like the eather will

i've never heard of this before, has anyone else heard of this ?
also, i have a MF TO-35 diesel and she takes more than a wiff, even with the single glow plug turned on.

it me again · Apr 27, 2014

extra battery a can of " wd40 only" it start so much easier then starting fluid and you wont blow you head of your tractor seen it happen and if you live in cold county u need a block warmer that would help some....

starting a diesel?

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