Is it a good idea to pop start a diesel? I have heard that it was a big no-no, cause of the high compression of the diesel engine, that you could cause some serious head damage. What I was thinking about doing is just putting it in 3rd gear, and hooking it up to another truck and just dragging it till it started, instead of pulling it with the clutch in, then popping the clutch for the sudden jerk? I need to get the truck home, its at a friends house, and I can't afford the pricey starter right now, just bought that new IP, and I need to get it started. What do you guys think?

i have pull started many diesel tractors in the past and have never had a problem.

Well, I think I am going to try and pull start it so I can get it home and get that starter off of there and rebuild it. Thanks for your input.

Just cycle the g-plugs like you normally would and pull away! Should not damage a thing---unless your buddy decides to drag you like a tractor pull sled:eek: !

Did it work and how did you do it.

I have been curious about this for a long time. I figure it will work if you have enough battery power to run the electronics, and at least warm the glows a bit.

Who has done it? I am betting 1st or 2nd will drag the back tires??? How fast does 3rd gear require?

Dually man never got it to work because He found a ground had come off his IP. After he put it back it started right up.

I bet it was the same one I missed that fell down under the harness when I was doing the bump the first time. Scared the hellout of me at first when it wouldn't fire!:rolleyes:

I pull started my brother's truck a bunch of times when the starter was bad. It worked fine.
He bought a starter off ebay for $100 that was all new part, not rebuilt. The only problem with it was that they sent one with a small opening by the gear and it hit the flywheel. They replaced it with one with a wide opening and it has been working fine since.