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Daimler 15 starting

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 6:38 pm
by DW1900
Can anybody confirm if I can bump start a Daimler 15. I have just rebuilt the engine and I can’t get enough grunt to get it started, so I was thinking about towing it? Any thoughts?

Regards Dave W

Re: Daimler 15 starting

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:52 pm
by NickDeAth
I would say that is a definite no no, as far as I know the fluid flywheel can't work backwards.

Nick

Re: Daimler 15 starting

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 9:27 pm
by Sydsmith
The straight answer is no, do not try it.

I would try giving the engine a good turn over with the plugs removed to free the engine up and give it a good splashing of oil, if it is still too stiff, try a jump start with a pair of heavy jump leads to increase the battery umph.

Good luck Syd

Re: Daimler 15 starting

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 10:39 am
by DW1900
Thanks guys, that was my thought about the fluid flywheel. The engine turns over freely, the timing is set Ok, I have petrol to and through the carburitor. I have sparks, at the right time, at each plug. But it will not start. I have batteries link together and just purchased a booster yesterday, but just eventually drain all of the power. Any additional thoughts from anybody would be greatly accepted.

Regards

Dave W

Re: Daimler 15 starting

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 11:21 am
by Phillmore
Does the engine spin over at a good speed on the starter? Does it try to fire at all?

Re: Daimler 15 starting

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 12:07 pm
by Soundmike
The fluid flywheel WILL work both ways, but requires moderately high speeds (I guess about 20 mph in top gear) to couple. It works in the same way as it provides engine breaking under normal driving conditions. The driving & driven members are basically the same construction and there is no oil pump to worry about. The only issue would be if the engine is too tight to turn by starter or crank handle.
The other trick is to temporarily connect a second 12v battery directly to the coil to ensure max spark (doesn't need to be a flash battery). Just need a good one to turn the engine........ Leave the ignition switch OFF, the second battery takes over all ign functions. Use the button on the solenoid to operate starter.

Re: Daimler 15 starting

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 1:17 pm
by DW1900
Hi Andy, there is no attempt to start at all.

Soundmike, I note your comments regarding the fluid flywheel, and that makes perfect sense. I do like the idea of a separate feed to the coil, I will give it a try this afternoon.

Regards

Dave W

Re: Daimler 15 starting

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 4:51 pm
by Sydsmith
When I were a lad ....... I used to help my uncle with de-cokes and with old side valve engines it was often a problem to get engines to start again and required a tow to do the trick.

OHV engines seemed to be a lot easier. We used to take out the plugs, give the engine a good raz on the starter, put a slug of engine oil into each plug hole, refit the plugs, advance the ignition slightly, prime the carburettor, full choke and start the engine, never fails.
Good Luck. Syd

Re: Daimler 15 starting

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 9:24 pm
by Soundmike
Also, how fresh is the petrol!!!

Re: Daimler 15 starting

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:30 am
by Stan Thomas
You cannot "jump start" a Daimler with a pre-select transmission in the conventional way of just a slow-speed tow - but as stated in a previous post the fluid flywheel will couple at about 15 - 20 mph. You need to tow or roll down a hill - but with top gear selected, not a lower gear. Done it, been there, got the "T" shirt - long ago when I worked in the trade - way back when we had a proper Government and someone to replace them with.

The suggestion of using a slave battery across the coil is very sound advice so try that first. Why it works is because the voltage drop due to the cranking load on the battery can "starve" the coil of sufficient voltage. (Thats why an engine which will not start often just fires a cople of times the moment you stop cranking the starter). I once used this method to start a sleeve valve which had not run since the time of the Norman Conquest.

Let us know how you get on!

Stan.