So when it was -20 out and we had 14'' of snow i headed to the barn to fire up the Kubota and push some snow. First off i saw 165ft of three foot snow banks blocking the path from the barn to the driveway. I shoveled a path through all of it just wide enough to fit the tractor. Once i made it to the barn I attempted to start the Kubota. It didn't start and the battery died. (original battery from 03.) I attached the charger and had a beer while i waited. The beer froze. I attempted cranking the engine again. Sounds like battery is good at this point but still no smoke. I remember, "there's a little port at end of the air cleaner housing for ether!". I know what to do know after all i've seen many youtube videos. So I tried to spray some ether into the port. Ether can is frozen so no fine mist from the can. Just a dribble of starting fluid. Hmm, can too cold...need heat...put can under halogen work light to warm up. Revisit tractor to further asses situation and wonder if i can drink another beer fast enough to prevent beer from freezing. During this process I decided it would be best to remove air filter to allow a more.....suffecient?...copious? amount of ether to enter the combustion chamber. So I grab the can of starting fluid, hit the glow plugs for 10sec, crank the engine and spray the ether simultaniously. I hear crank crank thud. Engine stops. "oh ****". Instantly i remember the close piston tolerances and high compression ratio of a diesel. I wait, and wait. Then start turning the key to crank quickly to try and force the ether somewhere other than where it currently is. After several cycles of trying to crank an ether locked engine...i tried the beer thing. It worked. Went back to the tractor, prob 10 min later, and it fired up and sounded fine. As it warmed up...i threw out the starting fluid.
Learned what ether lock is
- Thread starter dagofast
- Start date
- Views: 39317
wmonroe
Elite Member
Using ether and glow plugs is a very bad idea, sounds like you might have got just enough ether in there to temporarily lock up the engine. I would avoid using ether and cycle the glow plugs a second time if necessary, with a new battery.
Recoveryhill
Gold Member
Providing ether to a Kubota diesel engine is like a lethal injection. It's like lobbing a grenade into the combustion chamber. "I want to kill you engine...take this".
-20 starts require proper fuel (winter additives), a strong battery, healthy glow plugs and a block heater if your oil has turned to peanut butter. I know...funny advice to be receiving from the Virgin Islands, but take my word for it. Throw the ether away unless you have plans for a do it yourself appendectomy.
-20 starts require proper fuel (winter additives), a strong battery, healthy glow plugs and a block heater if your oil has turned to peanut butter. I know...funny advice to be receiving from the Virgin Islands, but take my word for it. Throw the ether away unless you have plans for a do it yourself appendectomy.
Egon
Epic Contributor
Ever consider a block heater?
TexasBoy
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2013
- Messages
- 278
- Location
- Central Texas
- Tractor
- Kubota M7060HDC12, L4600DT, Ford 4000
I sure dont know how you guys handle that really cold weather. This Texakin wouldnt survive !
Tx Jim
New Member
I sure dont know how you guys handle that really cold weather. This Texakin wouldnt survive !
AMEN BUDDY them Yankee's are a lot tougher than this old man.
Tx Jim
New Member
Yep ether sprayed in a glow plug type engine is looking for an explosion!!!!!!!
creekbend
Super Star Member
I agree with the others. The methods used by the OP are dangerous to both Limb and Machine. attn#OP- Please get an Operator's Manual for your make and model.
cqaigy2
Super Member
Thanks for posting your cautionary tale.:thumbsup:
I agree with you Texakins, that's some cold weather!
I agree with you Texakins, that's some cold weather!
As I recall, mine says to hold glow plugs on for 20 seconds. In past years, I was using 'Off Road' diesel from a station south of Howell. THAT needed glow plug assisted starting all the time.
Now I use 'On Road diesel' from a station close by. Even in this -5F weather, I don't need the glow plug assist. It fires on all 4 in 2 revs. I'm assuming it's a winter blend for car owners.
Now I use 'On Road diesel' from a station close by. Even in this -5F weather, I don't need the glow plug assist. It fires on all 4 in 2 revs. I'm assuming it's a winter blend for car owners.