kinda random, my either assist started working

[whyme]

last night was interesting, my horn died but my either assist started working, i doubt there is a connection of course.

the horn i will check on a warm day but i imagine maybe frozen condensation in the solenoid.

the either is interesting, i have had rough starts below ~35 degrees, usually it will start rough in 2-3 tries and i always tried the either but it never seemed to make a difference. last night was the first time ive started it in 20 degree weather and when i hit the either on the second crank it fired up and for the first time i could smell either. i was worried given i checked and could hear the solenoid and made sure i had a full can so i had no reason to think it wasn't working. i thought maybe the thing was leaking given this was the first time i could smell it.

forward to this morning and again i did as usual, 18 degrees out, tried to crank and nothing, second crank this time i hit the either and it fired up with a vengeance, again i can smell the either. i am ecstatic, i assume it must have been clogged or something. i am curious if it could have to do with the temp sensor but if i hear it actuate i assume not and i doubt it would have to be below 30 to allow it to work. any input?

 

[drgreg]

I think the ether start system is controlled by a temp sensor that will not let it activate above 20 deg F. I have never smelled ether from my system, I would check the lines and connections under the hood.

 

[doghead]

It does have a temperature sensor that is normally open. It closes to make the ground around 30 degrees. It should be mounted on the intake manifold, near the front.

I thought this was mentioned in the -10TM.

 

[doghead]

So, I figured I better find the right temp for the sensor/switch.

I did an Advanced Search in the deuce forum for"ether temp".

Bam, about 10 threads down I found a good thread covering this issue.

Bjorn posted this,

The thermal switch for the ether start system is set at 20°F if they are all equal. I tested one I had one time.
50 deg ambient? That's not cold, you have other issues. Check the fuel lines for air leaks to begin with, bleed the lines at the secondary/final filters. How are your fuel filters, clogged fuel filters will keep it from starting.
Batteries and connections in good condition? Should crank at 200-300 rpm to start and will do so down to 10 or even 0°F without starting aids when all is up to snuff.

 

[whyme]

im familiar with the sensor in question (pick up for the temp gauge, i am curious as to why i could hear the actuation of the solenoid when i checked it (warmer weather, 40's) but no either.
if it is the case that the either will not work above 30 and im having hard starts above 30 i might have to bypass that sensor.


batteries are good and she cranks plenty fast. fuel filters are on my to do list.

 

[drgreg]

I would not bypass the sensor, I would service the truck so it starts. The ether system works great as intended.

 

[whyme]

well a quick update, today was back into the mid 30's so for kicks i hit the either to see if it worked and sure enough it did so it would seem it must have been clogged or something.

 

[kipman]

Mine has stopped working, time to check it out.

 

[O.D. Fever]

Well my ether system was a litte flakey so I jumped out the temp. sensor and it works fine. I called quick start that makes the system, they told me 30f is the temp. when it closes. I orderd a new one and same thing. It seems to work at about 20 deg. So I jumped it again. I like things to work when asked to. And if the wind is right I smell......ether. Joe

 

[steelandcanvas]

One would think if the temperature switch was working correctly, you would hear the solenoid click. If not, no click. The switch is wired in series with the solenoid, no closed switch, no solenoid click. Just my .

 

[O.D. Fever]

You should have the engine rolling over when the swich is toggeled. Can't hear the solinoid with the starter engaged. If you we to take off the bottle and do it with air already built up and no buzzer and starter you could hear the solinoid. Cuz thats a lot of noise.