Cold Starting

[cattlerepairman]

Hi,
New member first time poster. We just purchased a 1991 M929A2 Dump and the cold weather either start can is missing and I can't seem to find any info on it. I believe it might screw into the cold start housing but not sure. Its located under the hood above the drivers side inner fender, Any info on the can that fits it would be helpful. Thanks and great informative site.

Any standard ether start can will fit. NAPA or truck stop (although the newer trucks no longer use ether start systems). Tractor supply might have them, too. You should be able to identify the ether start solenoid the can screws into (can stands upside down) and there is a bracket to hold it in place. There may also be a second bracket to hold a spare can.

 

[saddamsnightmare]

January 9th, 2016.

For the fellow in Texas, you may just need your flame heater unit more then you ever imagined...Based on my experience in Paris, TX, it will make the below 20*F starts go a lot easier! If your truck has a flame heater, maintain it! The ether is the worst thing a large diesel can be faced with, as it is not what the truck needs to start.

 

[sandcobra164]

My deuce would start in the low teens without assist. My M923 needs a slight squirt from the ether solenoid. The poster that revived this was interested in making a M929 start easier. It takes a little happy juice to make the NHC 250 light off on cold days with no block heater. Only spray while the engine is turning and use sparingly. The Cummins has lower compression than the Multifuel so it takes a little crutch to burn under the lower compression temps. Once bumped over, it warms up to sustainable combustion temps very quickly.

 

[JohnnyBM931A2]

January 9th, 2016.

For the fellow in Texas, you may just need your flame heater unit more then you ever imagined...Based on my experience in Paris, TX, it will make the below 20*F starts go a lot easier! If your truck has a flame heater, maintain it! The ether is the worst thing a large diesel can be faced with, as it is not what the truck needs to start.

For what it's worth, the post you're responding to was from 5 years ago

 

[JohnnyBM931A2]

My deuce would start in the low teens without assist. My M923 needs a slight squirt from the ether solenoid. The poster that revived this was interested in making a M929 start easier. It takes a little happy juice to make the NHC 250 light off on cold days with no block heater. Only spray while the engine is turning and use sparingly. The Cummins has lower compression than the Multifuel so it takes a little crutch to burn under the lower compression temps. Once bumped over, it warms up to sustainable combustion temps very quickly.

His M929 is an A2, so he shouldn't have too much trouble starting it in cold weather.

 

[sandcobra164]

His M929 is an A2, so he shouldn't have too much trouble starting it in cold weather.

Johnny,
I wouldn't be so sure. The 8.3 should be an easy starter but not always. It has the same compression issues as the old NHC 250 many times. Turns and blows smoke until it turns enough times. I've never owned one but before I got an M1089A1P2 Wrecker, I had an M936A2 wrecker in my National Guard unit. It had great compression, no noticeable blowby at the slobber tube but drive it hard one day and come back cold in the morning and it'd take around 30 seconds of cranking to get it to start. It's twin was the same. Ran fine and good throttle response once started.

Respectfully,
Joseph

 

[rustystud]

Johnny,
I wouldn't be so sure. The 8.3 should be an easy starter but not always. It has the same compression issues as the old NHC 250 many times. Turns and blows smoke until it turns enough times. I've never owned one but before I got an M1089A1P2 Wrecker, I had an M936A2 wrecker in my National Guard unit. It had great compression, no noticeable blowby at the slobber tube but drive it hard one day and come back cold in the morning and it'd take around 30 seconds of cranking to get it to start. It's twin was the same. Ran fine and good throttle response once started.

Respectfully,
Joseph

I have found that Cummins engines tend to get "cranky" when they get cold. Get it "cranky !" . I know it's a bad pun, but a true observation of this engine manufacturer. Also older 2 stroke Detroits can be a royal pain to start in the cold. The best engines I ever saw that would easily start in cold weather where the 3200 and 3400 series CAT engines. The newer C9 style engines are terrible and I would avoid them like the plague ! They almost bankrupted CAT with all their failures. In fact they almost merged with International engines last year due to losses.