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Fordson Tractors Discussion Forum

1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start

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Logan J

03-19-2004 19:25:20




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My 1954 Major (just got it) won't start without a small shot of ether. I thought, at first, that this was because of the relatively low compression ratio (16-1 I think). But, I have since read that these tractors should start easily. This machine uses no out, doesn't seem to have much blow by, and runs well once started. Any ideas as to why it needs the ether? Thanks in advance.




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ken sims

04-05-2004 17:03:56




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 Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Logan J, 03-19-2004 19:25:20  
1954 is a lond time it may have had some work done on the engine but i bet its time for some more, these engine were the best starters of there day and fords spent a lot of time and money making them so thats why there is no heat start.
they sold many engine for other manufactures to use. ether is not good for engines and is even worse to old ones. there is a button on the pump to increse the fuel to the injectors for cold starting have you tried this. but failing that i feel you may need to rebuild the engine.

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Jeff

03-22-2004 10:11:57




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 Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Logan J, 03-19-2004 19:25:20  
On cold days my '57 FMD also needs ether to start, but only a "sniff" (less than a second's worth!). I recently installed an inline coolant heater (600 watts) in the upper rad hose, now she'll crank over way quicker, therefore the fresh starter should last longer, but I still use a dusting of ether. Although she cranks fast enough now that I suspect later as the weather gets warmer she won't need the "quick start". I've been told that ether is hard on engines and that once you start using it it's like a baby's bottle, it won't start without it, but in a non glow plug engine a LITTLE ether shouldn't hurt. I think overuse is the biggest killer. I've also heard that the engine should be turning over when you spray the stuff, but I don't do ti, perhaps thats a good practice as well.

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andy

03-25-2004 09:30:15




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 Re: Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Jeff, 03-22-2004 10:11:57  
My previous experience after moving the timing and recalibrating the delivery pump and not forgetting to check the atomising pressures at the injectors is small squirt of WD lubricating
spray in the air intake as this also bring's up compression and firing before top dead center



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Tom In Cherrylog

03-30-2004 15:48:22




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 Re: Re: Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to andy, 03-25-2004 09:30:15  
Andy,
I'm just beginning to bring back a Dexta. She does start but as it warms up begins to lug and exhale black smoke then stops. These symptoms seem like a gas engine that doesn't lean out as warming. I've oredered the shop manual CD from Manitoba. Will it tell me how to test and calibrate the pump? Of course the seal wires on the side plate are gone so I suspect its been fooled with. Are there still places that callibrate these old Simms?

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michael R

04-02-2004 07:57:27




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to s in reply to Tom In Cherrylog, 03-30-2004 15:48:22  
My Dexta starts really well with ether but knocks hell out of the starter motor if i just use the glow plug. The battery needs to be well charged up too. as regards cutting out, this is probably fuel starvation due to furring up of the fuel line from the tank to the pump. Mine did this until i replaced the copper line with a broader-bore plastic line.



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BLUE HAULER

03-24-2004 09:29:50




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 Re: Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Jeff, 03-22-2004 10:11:57  
I have a 61 SMD I had some timing problems when I got it, reset the timeing at the pump coupling and no more problems.Started at 18 deg. the other morning using the cold start button on the side of the pump. best starting diesel I ever owned.....



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Logan Johnston

03-22-2004 17:24:11




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 Re: Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Jeff, 03-22-2004 10:11:57  
This is the case with this machine...it takes only a tiny shot of ether to get it going. I suspect that I may have a timing problem as well. The governor doesn't seem to be working correctly...may need a new diaphram. I'm going to have to just take it one problem at a time until I get everything working right. Does anyone have a theory about the "ether addiction"? I've heard this all my life, but no one has ever been able to explain why. I once had a Case 530 with the same problem. I had the pump built...tractor had good compression...just wouldn't start without the ether. ???

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Jeff

03-23-2004 14:27:43




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 Re: Re: Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Logan Johnston, 03-22-2004 17:24:11  
Furthur to this "ether addiction", a co-worker of mine, Junior, drove tractor trailers and straight trucks for years and related this story to me. He and another driver drove two Ford L9000's each equipped with 3208 Cat engines, at some point the other driver had to take Junior's truck in for service, it was well below freezing and the guy used ether on the truck to get it going as it wasn't plugged in the night before. Junior swears that after that, plugged in or not, his truck wouldn't start without ether and he never used it on his truck until his buddy used it. I don't have any reason to doubt his story. And he says that's why I'll probably have to use it on my FMD for as long as it needs to be started. It's probably an old myth but like you say, similar stories seem to crop up all the time.

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Randy

03-21-2004 12:06:38




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 Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Logan J, 03-19-2004 19:25:20  
My 61 Major Diesel has the same problem. I read in an archive in this forum that if you aim the flame from a propane torch into the intake while cranking the motor over the heat from the torch will give you enough heat to start it. Don't aim it too far into it.

It works!

It will end up breaking somethimg in the motor if you continue to use ether to start it.

Good Luck

Randy



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Phil Munson

03-22-2004 05:10:15




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 Re: Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Randy, 03-21-2004 12:06:38  
PROPERLY USED ether will not hurt a good engine. For over forty years it has been used here without ever hurting an engine. A little dab'll do ya; not the whole freaking can!! If the engine rattles and knocks; you used tooooo much, lighten up!

What you describe as hard starting may be caused by injectors which need work.

Most simms pumps have a "panic" button which will deliver excess fuel to help on a cold start up. Where the cable pulls back a lever to shut off the pump there is a button on that shaft. Push in the button, idle the throttle back almost to the low end and start the tractor, that should help.

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Jerry G

03-20-2004 17:36:52




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 Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Logan J, 03-19-2004 19:25:20  
I have a '55 Diesel that also needs a shot of ether to get going first start of the day. I don't think mine is a compression problem either. After it has been run awhile, the engine is very difficult to turn over. I have to use the compression release so it'll spin fast enough to pop. Spins good when she's cold though. Guess each one has it's own temperment.



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edwinb

03-26-2004 13:18:28




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 Re: Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Jerry G, 03-20-2004 17:36:52  
My 62 super major needs a sniff of ether on frosty mornings otherwise I just press in the excess fuel button and she fires up instantly Iuse the ether to save the battery as she only gets about 5 minutes running day to charge up This major has been difficult to turn over (start) when hot .Many curses have been put on her over the last 30 years that I own her if she stalled or was stopped hot there you would sit until the engine cooled or a pull start could be got

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Logan J

03-19-2004 19:27:05




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 Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Logan J, 03-19-2004 19:25:20  
OK...I meant to say it uses no OIL. Been a long day.



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Logan Johnston

05-07-2004 17:04:59




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 Re: Re: 1954 Major Diesel needs ether to start in reply to Logan J, 03-19-2004 19:27:05  
Just as an update, I pulled the injectors out last week and took them to be tested. 2 of them were breaking about 500psi too low. One was streaming instead of spraying. The last one was streaming from only one hole. I'm guessing starting performance will improve once the rebuilt injectors go back in.



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