I have a small 21hp Universal Diesel in my sailboat that will start
only reluctantly with a shot of starting fluid. The batteries are
strong and the glow plug is working fine. Even after it has been
running for a while and the engine is good and warmed up, I could shut
it down and it still won't restart without the starting fluid. It
seems to run just fine once it gets going with all the power I'd expect
from an engine that size. Anyone got any ideas what the problem might
be here?

Low injection pressure at crank speed, poor injector pattern or low
compression. Starting fluid will hammer your engine. Use WD40.
JR

AK_JohnM wrote:
I have a small 21hp Universal Diesel in my sailboat that will start
only reluctantly with a shot of starting fluid. The batteries are
strong and the glow plug is working fine. Even after it has been
running for a while and the engine is good and warmed up, I could shut
it down and it still won't restart without the starting fluid. It
seems to run just fine once it gets going with all the power I'd expect
from an engine that size. Anyone got any ideas what the problem might
be here?



--
--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth

No starting fluid. Glow plugs and starting fluid can cause serious
pre-ignition or even intake system explosions. As JR mentioned have the
injector checked out. While it is out do a compression check. If you
absolutely must use starting fluid disable the glow plug first. Unless you
are in the Arctic you should not need it in August, right???

Butch
"JR North" wrote in message
.. .
Low injection pressure at crank speed, poor injector pattern or low
compression. Starting fluid will hammer your engine. Use WD40.
JR

AK_JohnM wrote:
I have a small 21hp Universal Diesel in my sailboat that will start
only reluctantly with a shot of starting fluid. The batteries are
strong and the glow plug is working fine. Even after it has been
running for a while and the engine is good and warmed up, I could shut
it down and it still won't restart without the starting fluid. It
seems to run just fine once it gets going with all the power I'd expect
from an engine that size. Anyone got any ideas what the problem might
be here?



--
--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth