The AEC Matador was also available with a built in Easystart container that could be activated from the driver's seat. They knew a thing or two about starting engines in those days.
 
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Most tractors of that era had a Kigas starter boost hand pump. A fluid was used which was in the case of diesel just a cleaner [ finely divided ] diesel that was/is sprayed into the into the intake as a fine mist to assist ignition often with the aid of an intake glow plug. Aero engines like those in Spitfires and Hurricanes used the same system with petrol.
 
The AEC Matador was also available with a built in Easystart container that could be activated from the driver's seat. They knew a thing or two about starting engines in those days.

Most tractors of that era had a Kigas starter boost hand pump. A fluid was used which was in the case of diesel just a cleaner [ finely divided ] diesel that was/is sprayed into the into the intake as a fine mist to assist ignition often with the aid of an intake glow plug. Aero engines like those in Spitfires and Hurricanes used the same system with petrol.

Some of my old tractors had Thermostart cold start aids screwed into the inlet manifolds. I always thought they were better than glow plugs, and used less battery. Not sure why modern engines never have them.

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With you there Turboman, better system battery wise but needed extra fuel into inlet manifold and something to do that. Still it was a step up from a bit of burning fuel soaked rag into the air intake!
 
With you there Turboman, better system battery wise but needed extra fuel into inlet manifold and something to do that. Still it was a step up from a bit of burning fuel soaked rag into the air intake!
Done that too! :D

What I never understood was that some of the old kit seemed to be able to start without any heat at all
As far as I can remember, my Fordson Diesel Major just had a button on the injection pump that you pushed for extra fuel, and that always worked.
And my David Brown had a little screw, like a tiny tap, also on the pump, and that always started too.
 
Yes the excess fuel button on my Major worked well and the same on my Leyland 344 still does the same today with no glow fitted.
200 tdi's start well without glow, The auto excess in the fuel pump does the job, snag is it works every start [ does on mine anyway]even when warm giving a nice black smoke puff and getting one dirty looks in Tesco car park. Monkeys I do not give.:D
 
Yes the excess fuel button on my Major worked well and the same on my Leyland 344 still does the same today with no glow fitted.
200 tdi's start well without glow, The auto excess in the fuel pump does the job, snag is it works every start [ does on mine anyway]even when warm giving a nice black smoke puff and getting one dirty looks in Tesco car park. Monkeys I do not give.:D
Everything seems to start up OK, except for OPs Isuzu, of course! :eek::D
 
Most tractors of that era had a Kigas starter boost hand pump. A fluid was used which was in the case of diesel just a cleaner [ finely divided ] diesel that was/is sprayed into the into the intake as a fine mist to assist ignition often with the aid of an intake glow plug. Aero engines like those in Spitfires and Hurricanes used the same system with petrol.

kigas for the Perkins L4, was just diesel sprayed into manifold from main tank, was also useful if you wanted to get up the hill without changing down, it did push a bit of smoke out tho !
 

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