Starting fluid & oil bath air cleaners

Cow · Sep 25, 2011

Was just sitting and looking at my Ferguson TO-30 today and thinking about starting it in the coming harsh WI winter. The TO-30 has it's air intake right on the dash panel where an operator could spray some starting fluid right in there easily to get it going on a cold morning...

But then I thought about the oil bath air cleaner and what I would pretty much be spraying that ether right into and on the surface this seems like a bad idea- like it would just thin out the oil.

Any insights/thoughts/experiences on this?

MarkB_MI · Sep 25, 2011

By the time the ether gets sucked into the filter, it's probably evaporated. Even if the oil does absorb some starting fluid, it will evaporate back out once the engine is running.

Paul Janke · Sep 25, 2011

I've never had any luck with starting fluid going through oil bath air cleaners. I found a place to put starting fluid into the intake after the air cleaner. I use a tire valve without a core and just take the cap off and spray in a little starting fluid.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 25, 2011

It will work, I've owned 4 Ferguson TO-30's over the years. One of them was always tough to start so I would spray a little starting fluid through the dash air intake.

thurlow · Sep 25, 2011

Can't speak to your tractor, but......have had several 4020s with the oil bath air cleaner. They have the little device on the dash which injects ether directly, but we always found it simpler when we needed it (couldn't ALWAYS leave them where we could plug in the heater) to give 'em a shot into the pre-cleaner. Not sure how much we've shortened the engine life; not a one of 'em has over 20,000-odd hours.

gene bender · Sep 25, 2011

you are not spraying into the oil the oil is in the bottom and the air intake for the carb is above the oil level you cant suck air thru oil

Dean Olson · Sep 26, 2011

I grew up in Iowa and needed ether to get tractors started on extra
cold mornings. We drilled a small hole in the air intake pipe just
before the carb. We covered it with tape, that didn't work too well.
Then tried a hose clamp with a tire patch, better but still not good.
Finally went with an appropriately sized radiator hose that slid over
the hole. That worked great.

36 Coupe · Sep 26, 2011

I avoid using ether but have a little sprayed into the air intake will start the engine on my Ford 640.Running out of gas can give trouble with getting gas into the carberater.I do think that air pressure in the line can block gravity fuel flow.I can see air bubbles moving up the clear plastic water lube line when the water is flowing.The air intake on my 640 is up high on the side of the hood.I can spray ether while sitting on the seat.I have heard some squeaks and bangs from the engine that makes me think ether fires on compression before the piston reaches top dead center.

MarkB_MI · Sep 26, 2011

"you cant suck air thru oil"

Uh, Gene, that's exactly how an oil bath air cleaner works.

buickanddeere · Sep 26, 2011

Use a block heater and forget about that d*m fool
ether.

Starting fluid & oil bath air cleaners

Cow

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MarkB_MI

Well-known Member

Paul Janke

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Anonymous-0

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thurlow

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gene bender

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Dean Olson

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36 Coupe

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MarkB_MI

Well-known Member

buickanddeere

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