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STARTING A DETROIT

L

lenray

Well-known Member
Have this 3-53 Detroit in a DO MOR Industrial tractor. Plug it in --in the cold of winter and warm the water and it will start right up.

Today in the 70's it is difficult to start. Starter just overhauled--really spins the engine. White smoke out the muffler. It needs just a snort of ether to start. Once started it will start right back up--very easily.

Probably some low compression and other age problems.

Any tricks and or tips on better starting without ether??????????/ Thanks
 
They used to hold a rag soaked in gasoline up to the intake pipe. Ether is a whole lot easier. Just use a little bit and it won't hurt a thing. Cheaper than wearing out a starter. Probably the engine is old and tired and just needs a little kick to get it going in the morning, kind of like me!
 
If the rack is set right, and has anything that resembles compression they will bust right off. Matter of fact I'm building a 3-53 right now that had a bent rod. It would bust right off on its 2 good cylinders. I would say pull the valve cover and start checking compression. Starting right up with just a snort of ether, and then restarting with out it when warm tells me it's a wear/compression problem. Does it white smoke while running, or just while cranking? Its hard to say without, being there and hearing/seeing it do its thing. One more thing does it have a funk, or dodge gearbox off the back of it that you can disengage while cranking? If so try that, it may give the starter the extra bit it needs to get it going without ether.
 
Yea it has a Funk-a-matic--NO CLUTCH Just two pedals forward and reverse. No white smoke when running. Don't know how to disengage the funk from the motor. Thanks for your ideas.

I have never tested for compression on a Diesel--just gassers..........
 
I had a 1900 oliver that acted the same way. It was wore out and needed rebuilt. When they wont start without ether and smoke white they are getting pretty wore. They are cheap to get parts for compared to other engines. Agkits.com carries engine rebuild kits.
 
Plug it in. Seen many old diesels that will not start unless very warm. A friend has a Ford 1700 with glow plugs and he has to heat the glow plugs on it no matter how warm or cold it is even when 90 out
 
I really dont know where to tell you to buy/borrow/or beg one. The one I use is at least 30 years old. Its just a dummy injector with a gauge, and a fuel line to tie the pressure and return together. Maybe a machine shop? Where are you at? Its a long shot but I may be able to loan it to you.
 
If tearing into it. Order the detroit Diesel updated N series liners and pistons. Forget about the low compression S series junk.
Use C45 orC50 injectors.
Install the updated cam follower springs and updated valve springs.
Don""t grind the valves, grind and seats and then re-ring the engine and expect an improvement.
Grinding valves and grinding seats reduced the compression.
Change every bearing. Maintaining oil pressure at idle is vital.
There is a seal update for the driven end of the supercharger. Reduces the chance of a lube oil fuelled run away.
 
If the fuel tank is lower than the charge pump, add a one way check valve to the fuel line, if it doesn't already have one, so the fuel will not drain back to tank during shut downs.
Just a thought
Dennis
 
Kubota's with indirect injection need the glow plugs for a cold start no matter how hot it is. My neighbor used a shot of ether every time to start his IH 806.
 
No surprise there.
Pre-combustion chamber engines by design when brand new and in perfect condition need glow plugs to start.
Your buddy with the IH806 has broken the rings from using ether. Of course it now requires a snort of assist every time now because the compression is low. Also the cranking speed could be slow. Rpm is everything when starting a diesel.
 
don"t hold a gas soaked rag over intake of a Detroit, blower can pull rag and fingers through it, friend lost 2 fingers trying this not trying to tell you what to do but please make sure your shutdown lever works and the flap closes completely in case the engine tries to run away,
 
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