Spring Starter Motors For Diesel Engines
Mechanical starters are a reliable, cost-effective way to start diesel engines.
IPU’s range of SureStart spring starters are a reliable, cost-effective way of providing manual starting for diesel engines in a variety of applications.
The applications of spring starters can include:
- Marine engines: Spring starter motors can be used as a backup to electric starters in marine engines. They are particularly useful in situations where the battery is dead or the starter motor fails.
- Aircraft engines: Some small aircraft still use spring starter motors as a backup to electric starters. They are particularly useful in situations where the battery is dead or the starter motor fails.
- Stationary engines: Spring starter motors can be used to start stationary engines, such as generators or pumps, where electricity is not available.
- Emergency backup: Spring starter motors can be used as a backup in emergency situations, such as power outages or natural disasters, to start engines that are needed for critical operations.
- Vintage and antique vehicles: Some vintage and antique vehicles still use spring starter motors as part of their original equipment. These vehicles may include classic cars, motorcycles, tractors, and other types of antique machinery.
- Military vehicles: Spring starter motors are still used in some military vehicles, particularly in rugged and remote areas where electricity may not be readily available.
- Remote locations: Spring starter motors can be useful in remote locations where there is limited access to electricity, such as in wilderness areas, offshore drilling platforms, or remote mining sites.
- Agricultural machinery: Spring starter motors can be used to start agricultural machinery such as irrigation pumps, harvesters, and ploughs. This can be particularly useful in rural areas where access to electricity may be limited.
- Construction equipment: Some construction equipment, such as generators, compressors, and welding machines, may still use spring starter motors as a backup to electric starters.
- Emergency vehicles: Spring starter motors can be used in emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire trucks, as a backup to the electric starter in case of a power failure or other emergency situation.
Our spring starters are available for engines up to 12 litres, they are ideally suited to harsh environments such as offshore and marine and provide an ideal low-cost alternative to electric starting systems.
Benefits of spring starting
- Spring starters offer guaranteed starting. Long shutdowns, damp, cold or harsh environments don’t affect the engine cranking because of the manual operation
- Reliability. Spring starters have a long and proven track record with many spring starters still operating after decades in service.
- Space and weight saving. Spring starters have a starting weight of only 18kg and less than 50% the weight of a conventional electric starter.
- Operator safety. When using a spring, the crank will not fly off or kick back during operation, and the motor can be unwound if not required.
- Ease of use. Spring starters are a direct ‘bolt-on’ alternative to electric starters providing quick and easy installation.
- Reduces battery costs. For certain applications, such as pumps, welders and gen-sets a spring can remove the need for a battery completely.
- Lower electrical costs. Without the need for an electric starter a lighter duty alternator can be fitted or your existing alternator will last longer.
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An easy reference guide for selecting the best starting system for your engine.
Which mechanical starter motor is right for me?
We have a range of mechanical spring starters to suit different applications and different makes of diesel engine. Our starter motors can also be used to replace many existing Kinetico or Startwell units. To make the choice easier we’ve put together an online product selector to find out which mechanical starter motor is right for you.
Spring Starter Product Selector
How do spring starter motors work?
An E-Switch pack disables the electric starter when the spring starter is engaged on a dual starter installation.
IPU’s mechanical spring starter motors come complete with a winding handle.
Simply push a button on the motor to engage it and wind the handle until a coloured indicator on the motor changes. Then remove the winding handle and, to start the engine, pull on the trip lever on the motor.
It’s that simple!
We’ve even produced a video that shows just how simple they are to operate:
Video: Operating a spring starter
IPU Group supply the SureStart range to American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) via Kentucky-based distributor G&C Multi-Services. Learn more here.
