old-school start with a manual

[JTucholke]

if I got this beast on an incline would I be able to pop the clutch and fire it up without a starter? How about without battery power? I was just thinking worst-case scenario...



Is this a bad idea?

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

shouldn't hurt anything I would use 3rd gear though to do it

 

[GCroyle]

Just a note of caution from the clutch's perspective.



First, personally, I don't know what the benefit of hill starting would be, but the modern diaphragm clutch that we use in virtually everything that has a clutch in it, pass car and P/U uses drives straps to connect the stamped cover to the pressure plate. Notice that they are set up to pull the casting in rotation, not push it. To start the engine, they would be in a push mode. Yes, these trucks get downshifted hard all day long and the straps take the reverse thrust load, but I have seen clutches with damaged drive straps from extreme downshifts, driving the truck or car throughout the gears with the tires in the air and allowing them to rapidly decel and bend the straps. The same potential damage can occour from coast, bump starting.



If you do this and one day the clutch does not release, it could be from bent drive straps.



I'd rely on the starter and use it. My . 02$.

 

[steved]

If the injectors are electronically controlled, how is that going to work with a dead battery???

 

[AllianceDiesel]

yes you can pull start a dead cummins i have done it before, once you get the alternator turning everything gets power it may not run right until you get a full charge and the computer gets all the data learned but it does work.

 

[jelag]

With out battery power it won't start, it needs power to find the crank position to fire the injectors... in addition, you might get enough from the alternator pulling it... . this is something that I wouldn't do... .

 

[betterthanstock]

I believe most ECM and injectors will function down to 8 volts. Don't disconnect the batteries, or you may burn up the voltage regulator.

 

[BHaner]

Sorry... . It won't work.



With a 100% DEAD battery...



Without the ECM running, the alternator doesn't start charging.



You must have enough to at least power the ECM, and fire the injectors.



It takes about 15-30 seconds of run time before the charge system starts going.

 

[AEdelheit]

Ive done it when my batteries had power but not enough to actually crank the starter, I had to do it in reverse because of how i was parked, first time i tried truck came to a dead stop real quick, 2nd time i hit the starter and poped the cluth at the same time and that worked.

 

[jelag]

Gary.....

Your point is well taken. . but consider the following. .

Remember that for a lot of years we've installed exhaust brakes on the Fords, Chevy, and Dodge PU's all using the diaphram clutch cover... every time the exhaust brake comes on... the power is transmitted back from the wheels to the engine... . We've done this without problems... in most cases a good exhaust brake will produce 90% of engine HP as retarding HP... to slow the vehicle down... .

On class 8 trucks with the EZ pedal strap drive the same is true with the engine brakes as well.....