Pull Starting The Deuce

[Josh]

Well my deuce sucumbed to the cold weather this morning. After nearly killing my two 1200CCA truck battieries I realized it wasnt going to start. I call my friend over who has a F250 to give me a little pull to try and get it started. Well after a couple quick tugs she wouldnt fire so I told him keep it at about 10mphs or so and put the truck in 4th Low range. It took almost 4 blocks for the truck to start to stay running under its own power. After 15 minutes or so of idleing to warm it up a little I set off. This was the first time I've had to pull start the deuce. I learned my lession about not having a block a heater. Unfortunatly Napa and all the other parts stores around me were out of magnetic block heaters, so I went to home depot and bought 2 cheap drop lights and some 100w bulbs. I put a drop light on each side of the motor. Hopefully they should put out enough combined heat to keep the oil from getting to think.


All in all it wasnt bad. She smoked like an steam engine as we drug her around. Soon she ran under her own power though, the smoke went away.

 

[dittle]

On a couple of recoveries from Camp Dodge we had to pull start the trucks due to dead batteries. We had them in Low 3rd when pulling/pushing them and that seemed to work pretty good but it was spring/summer then.

 

[jwaller]

how cold was it when you were trying to start them. a deuce shouldn't need that much even when cold. were you using the cold start system?

 

[atankersdad]

I thought Portland never got that cold....

 

[Blood_of_Tyrants]

Portland doesn't get that cold. You may have a bad lift pump.

 

[jasonjc]

Mine will start at 10-15F covered in ice with in 5 maybe 10 secones of cracking.

 

[DanMartin]

It was down to 8-10 degrees this week in PDX....it does get cold here sometimes.

I agree though...while cold, it should have started (Mine did) with little trouble. Something else is going on. Maybe gelled fuel?

 

[roscoe]

Cold batteries don't have as much kick either. While I'm waiting on Wesfolks block heater to arrive, I used a salamander to heat up the engine area for about 5 minutes. It worked well -- the truck fired up instantly.

 

[Josh]

Well I had not started it in a few days. Also my in tank pump is fine. My filters on the other hand need to be replaced. Even in warm weather shes been having trouble starting. I got the filters just havent had time to do it.

And it was 14degrees according to my thermometer yesterday morning.

 

[Scarecrow1]

Believe it or not but a 150 watt flood light pointing up and close to the oil pan will keep an engine from freezing . In 1999 I had a water pump with a bad leak when you shut the engine off . With no replacement available for a week And with our dogs I couldn't keep pouring in antifreeze , not to mention the cost of it, to pour out on the carport floor. So a friend told me to use the lights .It dropped well bellow freezing that week at night and my block never froze

 

[stumps]

Believe it or not but a 150 watt flood light pointing up and close to the oil pan will keep an engine from freezing . In 1999 I had a water pump with a bad leak when you shut the engine off . With no replacement available for a week And with our dogs I couldn't keep pouring in antifreeze , not to mention the cost of it, to pour out on the carport floor. So a friend told me to use the lights .It dropped well bellow freezing that week at night and my block never froze

I guess I am confused. Why would your block freeze? Were you putting plain water into it, or was it just low on coolant?

-Chuck

 

[jwaller]

Even in warm weather shes been having trouble starting. I got the filters just havent had time to do it.

And it was 14degrees according to my thermometer yesterday morning.

you need to go ahead and swap out the filters. last thing we need to hear is how you pull started it 1 more time and ran into the back of the guy pulling you bc the throttle stuck or he stopped short when you didn't have any air built up or any 1 of 10 things.

 

[DanMartin]

Josh, I bet the primary filter is full of (now frozen) water....blocking fuel flow. It's important to drain them before it gets down to freezing. Now that it's warmer, I would drain all of them and see what comes out. Use an old glass jar or something so it's easy to see what came out.

Are you running WVO or Biodiesel? Or is it straight diesel in the tank?

 

[Josh]

Straight Diesel. I made the mistake of using the recomended amount of a diesel additive and it broke alot of crap loose in the tank. Normally when I start using additive I slowly work up so it doesnt do this.

Also If the throttle sticks, foots always on the clutch for that, and I'm a big enough guy I can make the brakes lock up with out the air assist( tested in giant parkinglot. Opened the glad hands and the tank relieve valves. got up to 15mph, stomped on the brakes and the rear tires all locked up). Also there was a 30ftgap. between us. 20ft tow strap + a 10ft chain. Would never try to pull anything bigger then a 3/4ton pickup with any less of a gap.

While your concern is appricated. I Have pull started many trucks including OTR tractors(charge the airsystem with an outside compresser threw the emergency gladhand). Being both in the pull vehicle and towed vehicle.

Anyhow after I put the two drop lights in there last night, she fired with no issues this morning. Took about 1/4th the time it normally takes to come up to temp.

 

[50shooter]

The good news is you got her fired up. I've pulled deuces many times and it there was no other issues with it, she would fire up within 30 feet or so. Amazing how quick they usually come alive. The manual lists the exact procedure but I don't know it off the top of my head. I use 3rd gear in high and wait until we're moving about 10MPH and pop the clutch. Worked well everytime I've done it.

 

[Preacherboy]

My dad and I had to pull start my deuce, hooked up a tow strap to my wife's Tahoe, I pulled it about 1 foot and the truck started. My dad was in the truck, it was in high range and second gear and he popped the clutch and it started! That quick and easy.