Dont know alot about it other than after it has run it is easier to regular start but cold starts have to have either. 170,000 on the trip after market lift pump set up. has some codes but can't remeber them. runs fine after it starts and used to have a fueling box.

 

Tex, Gotta tell ya (and I am sure there will be dissenting opinions on this), I have never seen anything take a faster and more pronounced toll on an engine than I have witnessed caused by a daily shot of ether. It wiped out any trace of lubricity so efficiently that after 700 actual miles, the rings (along with cylinders, etc) were SO wiped out that a couple of the rings were reduced to no more that partial circle! Sound impossible?, I saw it.

 

Why would it start with the ether and not with diesel? Is ether easier to burn and more flamible?

 

Could a bad VP-44 be the prob?

 

You better watch spraying ether in that thing, if it hits the hot grid heater.....BOOM.

 

WD-40 works great for what you are doing, provides some lube as well. Ether can be bad news; my trucks say it's use will result in immediate and severe damage. Does it start ok after it has warmed up? How about if you plug it in on a cold morning? Does it do this in the summer when it's warm or only on cold fall mornings. You may have some bad grid heaters which would explain why you haven't had a fire or explosion---yet.

 

I agree, check you grid heaters and quit using ether.

 

I often hear people say either decreases engine life but have owned many tractors/heavy equipment that have no glow plugs or grids and instead have an electric push button either injector.
Never had a problem with the engines wearing out early with this type of cold start system. In fact one older John Deere's steel clutch pedal wore down till nothing was left, engine still used very little oil.

 

The gospel accoring to infidel

Just kidding Bill, but I agree with you. I have seen a few old tractors with the push button either, and they had been well used with no signs of engine trouble At the same time I have always heard to never shoot a diesel with either because they will get "hooked" on it and always need it to start. I saw this happen to an old ford 6.9 diesel that my buddy had. Possibly it depends on engine design? Got me.

 

I Agree With The Either And Equipment With The Switches But I Also Work For A Heavy Equipment Dealer And It Is A Pretty Big No No To Use Either Unless Absolutely Necessary.. I Wouldnt Hit It With Either If It Was My Own Personal Stuff Unless I Had Absolutely No Other Option..

 

Ether is bad news when coupled with grid heaters, glow plugs, manifold heaters, etc etc...ive seen intake manifolds blow off the side of engines before. That crap is FLAMMABLE!! From the sounds of it, id be 100% sure your grid heater is bad therefore causing hard starting. Another indicator is that its bad is, IF your grid heater WAS working and you did give it a healthy sniff of ether, you woulda heard one HELLUVA kaboom.

 

Ya a friend of mine just blew the intake off in a million pieces on his powerjoke using either.
Back on topic, get your codes and let us know what they are. Then we can help fix the no start problem.

 

How will we know if his grid heater is bad.

 

You need to check the resistance across the element. If you get no resistance, it is open(bad). If you do get resistance, you need to check to see if the relays are supplying voltage to them upon start up.

 

How cold are we talking here? Since its in Texas, I can't imagine its all that cold? These engines will start quite easily without the heaters to a fairly cool temp. It might not run the best, but it will start. Personally, I'd think it is something else thats making it start hard than a lack of grid heats.