D7 17A direct start question

In the "for what it's worth" column, I used an MT 50 12 volt starter on my 12E grader as it was set up for 12 volts when I replaced the buzz bomb pony. Two batteries hooked up in parallel have worked fine so far. I release compression first, crank it over for 8-10 seconds, and still while cranking hit the compression lever, give the foot feed a tap and a quick sniff of ether. Rumbles to life immediately unless the temps are under 25F or so. If it runs rough, another quick sniff and it straightens right out.

The ether injection setup is something I made up out of some small plastic oil line pressed over those little red plastic tubes that come on the brake cleaner spray cans. .fits the ether can on one end and the other goes into the intake between the air cleaner and manifold and the can is secured to the instrument panel.

I used the biggest batteries that would fit between the back of the cab and bulkhead in front of the engine and as I recall, the cables I made up were 2/0 with the terminals squeezed on. I've been putting the alternator conversion off for the winter. .too durned cold to work w/o gloves for this old man😆

Thanks for the reply Ol grump. I was thinking a 12 volt system would work. We even got to looking today and a 50 mt is what is on my big truck. I think we are gonna go ahead with the 8D battery. If thats not enough we'll and another in parallel.
It's getting pretty cold here in NC too. Seem to spend more time around the woodstove in the shop than getting anything done.

Running the lower voltage raises the amperage through switches, wires and contacts. You will need to run 24v if you expect to install glow plugs.
I thought Cat had a pretty good design and reason for the 24v system.

Would agree a pair of 8D's is overkill for the 17A, same set up used to start D9's. A pair of 4D's would probably be about right.

[quote="Old Magnet"]Running the lower voltage raises the amperage through switches, wires and contacts. You will need to run 24v if you expect to install glow plugs.
I thought Cat had a pretty good design and reason for the 24v system.

Would agree a pair of 8D's is overkill for the 17A, same set up used to start D9's. A pair of 4D's would probably be about right.[/quote]

The D7 17A I worked on has the 24 volt starter.The owner is a tight wad so we have two regular 12 volt in series I think thats right any way to make 24 volts..Use the decompression lever and she fires up.Cold weather I use just a little either.When she warms up it will crank without the decompression being used.See the wooden box?Guess what it is.

[quote="Old Magnet"]Running the lower voltage raises the amperage through switches, wires and contacts. You will need to run 24v if you expect to install glow plugs.
I thought Cat had a pretty good design and reason for the 24v system.

Would agree a pair of 8D's is overkill for the 17A, same set up used to start D9's. A pair of 4D's would probably be about right.[/quote]

The D7 17A I worked on has the 24 volt starter.The owner is a tight wad so we have two regular 12 volt in series I think thats right any way to make 24 volts..Use the decompression lever and she fires up.Cold weather I use just a little either.When she warms up it will crank without the decompression being used.See the wooden box?Guess what it is.