Ford Dorset/Dover cold start

[madabouttheboat]

A friend of mine has a 120hp 6 cylinder Ford Mermaid, not sure if its a Dover or Dorset but for this question it may not matter. It has a cold start button on the engine that in winter time he has to go down into the engine room and press before starting. This is obviously a bit of a pain for the old fella, and I can't believe that there is not some kind of remote operation for this button. I believe the engine was used in trucks, and I cant believe the truck drivers would have had to get into the engine bay before starting on cold morning. It would only take some kind of push pull cable, or maybe an electric solenoid mounted on a bracket, but was/is there a kit that can be bought?

Cheers

 

[Hunterlees]

If it is the same as my 80hp Dorset 2712 then the cold start is actually a little button on the injection pump. My engine fires up within 2 seconds without using cold start, so my question would be does your friend really need to use the cold start at all?

 

[madabouttheboat]

If it is the same as my 80hp Dorset 2712 then the cold start is actually a little button on the injection pump. My engine fires up within 2 seconds without using cold start, so my question would be does your friend really need to use the cold start at all?

Says he only needs it when its really cold, but he uses boat all year round, so I guess its often enough to be a pain. Whatever the reason, he does say that without it, it is difficult to start when really cold, and with it, it starts straight away.

 

[Alpha22]

I have a pair of those engines.... exact same cold start. I need to use mine in the winter and the first start in spring.
I have never seen a remote, I have no idea how it works on a truck...
But remember, these engines don't have glow plugs. Its pure compression and overfueling is the only cold start.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Can you get a choke cable from a classic car that could be routed to a connivant place to operate the cold start device remotely

A picture may help

 

[penberth3]

A friend of mine has a 120hp 6 cylinder Ford Mermaid, not sure if its a Dover or Dorset but for this question it may not matter. It has a cold start button on the engine that in winter time he has to go down into the engine room and press before starting. This is obviously a bit of a pain for the old fella, and I can't believe that there is not some kind of remote operation for this button. I believe the engine was used in trucks, and I cant believe the truck drivers would have had to get into the engine bay before starting on cold morning....

Wouldn't he be checking oil etc., anyway?

It's illegal to have these operated from the truck cab. Excess fuel = smoke, and possibly excessive speed!