Winter Starting A Perkins - No Glow Plugs

[V8RX7]

Hi,

I have a 90's Manitou telehander with a non turbo Perkins diesel.

It always starts within 5 seconds.

For the last few weeks as it's got cold, it will not start - it flattens the (good) battery within a minute of cranking because unless it turns over fast, it never starts (I mention this in case it's relevant)

I'm not that good with diesel mechanics but looking at it, it has no glow plugs.

What it has is a wire going to what I presume is a cold start injector on the intake.

What exactly should this do - as I suspect it isn't doing it.

Are there any tips to get an old agricultural diesel to start from cold ?

Thanks

[V8RX7]

I always use full throttle.

I always have had to use a boost pack for the first start of the day

[V8RX7]

The starter has clearly been replaced before I bought it (still shiny).

But as long as it has the battery power it will happily throw it over for a minute, when it should start in seconds.

My T4 van always starts but as soon as it gets cold I use the glow plugs and that means it still starts instantly rather than after 30+ seconds of cranking.

[V8RX7]

I knew to use Easy Start on old petrol cars - hadn't thought of it for diesels.

How does it hurt injectors - bearing in mind these are hardly state of the art ?

My labourer said they used to light cement bags to start a mixer - maybe I should have listened to him.

So it's the cold air causing the issue - Why ?

[V8RX7]

hidetheelephants said:

You've identified the problem, the cold start heater is not connected; connect it and forever more enjoy quick starting, at least in a UK climate. Don't use easy start as it fks engines.

No it is connected.

I have no idea if it's working (though I guess not) presumably it knows when it's cold (being in mind this is 90's agricultural machine) and turns on when cranking ?

So if I look down the intake whilst cranking I should see a warm diesel spray ?

[V8RX7]

Thanks for all the help.

I've been working by myself so couldn't turn the key and watch at the same time.

Managed to get a hand today... at first there was just a nice glow but after a few attempts there was a nice fire in the intake - but the damn thing still wouldn't start - but clearly it's not down to the cold start mech.

In frustration and as I had it in my hand from degreasing I tried spraying some brake cleaner down which had I engaged my brain I would have realised that all I'd get was a lovely flame thrower - slightly BBQ'd the intake hoses but part of me would have been happy if the damn thing burned to death.

[V8RX7]

I'd already done the earths / terminals - son of a classic car dealer here.

I always start it with a jump pack connected directly to the starter.

This combined with it's (older) battery means it spins over VERY fast for a minute - it's far from flat after a minute BUT unless it turns over fast it never starts. Usually if it turns over fast it starts within 5 seconds.

Further investigation today...

[V8RX7]

I got it started.

It's had a past issue with crap in the tank - had 2" of rust, water, wood etc in the bottom, when I bought it a few years ago. I drained & cleaned it with my wife's dish brush but with the only access being via the fuel sender I couldn't get it 100% and the tank is rusty.

I cleaned the separator and found a dirty slime in there, actual filter looks ok (peering in from the top I can see the paper) and the diesel below it is clean & clear and after pumping fresh diesel through and a squirt of diesel down the intake it fired up and then restarted off the key.

I'm unsure if dirt/slime was the issue as the filters weren't blocked, possibly the diesel is just draining back. I'm thinking about mounting a 25 litre container on the roof as that solves both issues - although looks wrong.

It's only run for short periods and can be left for weeks which doesn't do it any favours.