"bursitis" wrote:

what did you use for a fuel supply on the thermostart???

To be perfectly honest, I have not finished reassembling the engine from last years' overheating fiasco, so have not actually tried the thermostart.
But I 'know' it will work, well anyway they work well on a couple of old Case engined tractors we have had here, as well as on the Perkins in the 420D.
I quit working on the 9U when it got too cold last fall, just have to install the water pump and injectors.

For the fuel system to the Thermostart, I intend on mounting an old Pony engine fuel tank to hold diesel, just high enough so it will flow to the Thermostart.
The Pony fuel cock on a 1/4" fuel line should suffice to close off fuel flow when the diesel starts.
12V power will be provided from the direct start batteries through a simple switch (magneto switch from Pony perhaps?)

Anyway, it is warming up around here, would like to get the 9U running before farming starts (first the snow must melt, then mud and fields dry up a bit,
and its hair straight back after that)

I think you could tap a small cover on the rear of the fuel filter housing at the top. Some of the industrial engines have a relief valve there and a return line back to the tank. Maybe just a tiny bleed hole there

I was thinking of a small reservoir completely closed or maybe with a screw cap or plug. The ones I’ve seen on OEM setups have three connections, filtered fuel in at the top from the return line source, fuel out at the bottom to thermo-start and bleed/return out at top to tank.

So as engine turns or is primed up, filtered fuel bleeding back to tank fills the thermostat reservoir which stays full until you need it. it also keeps fuel fresh as fuel flows through any time engine is running. I don’t know what the thermostat valve is like but I’m sure it won’t cope with trash and the kind of snot that old diesel will grow


Another way you could do it is to tap the reservoir into the upper filter air bleed line at front of engine and just open the bleeder to fill it with fuel when you have the tractor running.

none of mine have reservoirs. they just have a line that is attached to the return line and gravity from that line to the device. the trick is to wait long enough for it to ignite and then crank. i always listen for that muffled POOF and then start the engine.

ccjersey; and bursitis Both excellent ideas, I will see which one best suits my machine
Cheers

"Neil" wrote:

How long does it typically take to light bursitis?

approximately 20 seconds.

Some thermostart info...

"Old wrote:

Some thermostart info...

Thanks, Old Magnet, that sets me straight.
I did not realize that the Thermostarts open and close the fuel feed, based on how long one keeps the electrical coil engaged.
Much obliged Sir.

Seems like a good candidate to fire in the pony exhaust heat exchanger tube. I've got reservations about direct fire into intake manifold. Any body done this? Not an option if factory Direct Electric Start where the heat exchanger tube is deleted.

"Old wrote:

Seems like a good candidate to fire in the pony exhaust heat exchanger tube. I've got reservations about direct fire into intake manifold. Any body done this? Not an option if factory Direct Electric Start where the heat exchanger tube is deleted.

yes i have several engines but none are caterpillar. one thing to remember is that as soon as you crank the engine the thermostart will basically blow out. you don't need to hold on it and try to warm the engine. once you ear that poof it is time to crank the engine with the fuel rack on so the engine can start and it will start very quickly. as soon as you hear it begin to take off you need to be off of the thermostart. it will surprise you just how fast the big engine will start.

i don't think it would work to try to fire in the pony heat exchanger with a thermostart.