I just bought a couple of timberjack skidders (with cummins) as a two for one. Both of them are 'addicted' to starting fluid. My question is what makes them addicted and is there a way to break them. Background of the two- 1994 models, both have been rebuilt with around 2600 hours on them now. The motors are very strong / one smokes white off and on during idle and pulling.

 

I went through the same thing with a PSD. The first thing you need to look at is the grid heaters. If the grid heaters are not working the addiction cannot be broken until they are fixed.

 

Ether dependency is the result of continuous starting fluid shots. The top compression ring becomes mis shapped from the continuous shots of the stuff and volatile temps. So in time your compression weakens to a point where it needs that shot to start it up. The engines will usually become dogs and smoke until rebuilt. Hope that helps a bit.

Stephen

 

Both are not dogs yet. But I am getting ready to pull one motor to put a rear main in it and also turn the bearings and valve work. While it is out can the fix (for the ether) be done without a major rebuild.

 

Ether, used with discretion, will do no harm.

The trouble is the wooden-heads that grab a can and drown the intake until it drips.

No harm will result from just a breath of ether while the engine is cranking.

As previously stated, you may have to re-ring to "wean" the engines; but, if they start and run satisfactorily, I would simply ether them until an over-haul was necessary, then address the problem.