DanMan

This is the first winter I've had mine. After I discovered it's absolutely unnecessary to let the grid heat cycle in warm weather, I've always been just hitting the key and it pops right off. Now, starting w/o being plugged in at 0-15 above it takes about a whole whopping revolution of the crank and she fires right up after letting the grid heater cycle. Does a little chugging on the firing of the first 2-3 cylinders then purrrrresss like a kitten.

91.5 beater

It's a beater what do you expect??? jk! I'll help you check it out.

dpuckett

Make sure your KSB is getting power and functioning properly. My switch in the intake was bad, causing the chugging and white smoke at <~40deg. Put a switch on it, and the instant I flip the switch, it smooths out. Let the temp needle get to the thick line by the "C' on the gauge and flip to to normal timing.

If you dont let the heaters run, it will chug, sputter, and smoke on startup in cold weather.

Daniel

EClancy

can someone explain to me what the ksb does, and how one would test to see if its bad?


My truck is a bear to start under *40, and next to impossible at temps under *20. i started my Pete at work yesterday, after sitting 3 weeks in *20+- weather, and the old 3406 fired and ran after 3 cranks, i wish my dodge could do that

wannadiesel

An inoperative KSB won't make the truck hard to start, just makes it put out a lot of white smoke and misfire some when first started. There's info on the KSB in the sticky, but don't get too hung up on it because that's not what's making your truck hard to start.

You might want to check the compression on your truck. With a good battery and clean connections, and a leak-free fuel system, these trucks normally light off with almost no cranking down into single digit temps. Mine has huge injectors and a stupid amount of timing, and I don't even hear it crank (hit the key and it's running) until the temps get into the 20's.

93beater

thats how my trucks was last year before mods fired at the touch of a key after some mods it slowed down, i adjusted the valves and it seems like it starts a little better maybe its just warmer outside haha, but im pretty sure i might have a small air leak in my fuel lines so im gona check for leaks and bump the timing here today or tom, ill let you guys know what i find!