Will starting fluid hurt my cub?

[Dan Stuckey]

In the very cold weather my cub is a real bear to get started. Hey bunch of grinding and sometimes it's still won't start. So I was at NAPA today buying a new six volt bulb for it and thought of getting some starting fluid. I bought a can and came home and gave it about a two second shot in the intake. The engine fired up immediately and ran like a top. I heard in the past that ether can be hard on an engine and just wondering if this will do any harm to use starting fluid occasionally.

Hey guys. You can disregard this unless something interesting. I did a search on starting fluid and there is plenty of reading on this site for it. Thanks.

[Clark Thompson]

wont hurt it.

[Bus Driver]

With the Cub, if starting fluid is needed, the ignition and fuel systems need to be brought up to top condition. The starting fluid for Cub does not cure a problem, just masks it temporarily. Soon the fluid will not do the job.

[Boss Hog]

I do not like to use it. I do know that the diesel Ford tractor we had got addicted to it But that was an old Perkins 3 cyl with a Lucas starting system on it. May have been the worst electrical system that was ever made. You will get many answers to this question on both sides. If it is in tune, with good compression, and good cranking system, it should crank without ether.
Boss

[gitractorman]

One thing to keep in mind, if you're trying to start it with the clutch pedal pushed down, it is MUCH harder on the engine to start it. All that pressure from the clutch is pushing on the flywheel. If you put it in neutral and let the clutch out, they are a lot easier to start!

[Dan Stuckey]

The engine does start quite well in warmer temperatures. I might have a mild compression problem as I posted earlies that I do have small bubbles coming up around several head bolts. I just purchased new head bolts and gasket and will replace soon. As i have been treating the head bolts to Kroil and hitting them with a hammer and short piece of rebar, as kroil has pooled around the spark plugs, I even see tiny bubble around the base of them. I have tightened them down as tight as I feel they should be but some bubbles still are sceen. I know ideally, this should not happen but I wonder on just how many engines this does happen on. How many times do we have fluid around the plugs to notice this same thing or able to even see the base of the plugs to check on this.

[lazyuniondriver]

Here is a link from last November where the issue of starting fluid was discussed.


http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74948&p=601310#p601310

[Rudi]

Dan:

I started with a little bit of coolant/bubbles around the plugs - mostly #2. Changed the head gasket cause the gasket leaked. Thought it fixed it. Nope .. didn't do it. Redid the gasket again, checked the head for a crack but couldn't see anything. Reassembled, retorqued ater a few hours at operating temp and thought it was fixed. Nope - bubbles and coolant still coming out - then I looked at it more closely. Cracked head. Hairline but the head was cracked nonetheless. So that meant I did it one more time - with a replacement head and now no more leaks/bubbles.

Solve the head/head gasket problem and then solve the starting problem. If you must use help, suggest carb cleaner - much easier on the engine than ether. Save ether for diesel's - they usually need it (learned that on the TD7/8's )

[lazyuniondriver]

...with a Lucas starting system on it. May have been the worst electrical system that was ever made.

Amen to that.. http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mtmorris/index3.html

[Buzzard Wing]

I am sparing with starting fluid..... really need to be in a jam to use it. Somewhere I heard it washes the oil off the cyl walls or something??

Usually if there is a problem starting a Cub, may as well fix whatever is causing it. You will be much better off in the end. A Cub should start on the first or second try. Even in the cold.

[Clark Thompson]

In cold weather when cranking a low compression engine the little heat that is created on compression makes frost on the spark plug electrodes. If your cub doesnt fire on the first few trys then It can be assmes frost has shorted the gap in the plugs. When giving it some either/ starting fluid it dryes the electrode aiding is starting. In a diesel engine the starting fluid mixed with diesel fires at a much lower temperature. Making it start. On diesel engines it is wise to use starting fluid sparingly. Too much can cause either lock. I have seen cyinder heads blow apart by too much either. Plus it can blow pistons apart. On gas engines there is very little risk of damage.