Thermostart. Where is it located?

[captbuddy]

Is this the Thermostart just behind the fresh water tank on the from of my 1978 Perkins 4-108. The one with the wire attached to the top.

 

[Mac2]

Google Search

Hope this helps. Your picture looks like the thermostat. The thermostart needs a fuel source and an electrical connection.

 

[Mac2]

The video didn’t transfer, but it shows the thermostart on the intake manifold.

 

[Mac2]

Fuel line on the top of plug and 12v supply wire on the side screw

 

[Mac2]

Location on engine

 

[High Wire]

The pictures in Post #1 show a temperature switch, not the Thermostart.
If its the same as my 6.354, its in the intake opening. Look for a fuel line running back to the secondary fuel filter housing. Mine was disconnected for boat use from the git-go. It's for below freezing temperature conditions. Rare on a boat. Lighting a flame in a boat engine room, even behind a flame arrestor, is not a great idea.

 

[captbuddy]

Guys is it possible my 4-108 is not equipped with a Thermostart?

 

[High Wire]

Guys is it possible my 4-108 is not equipped with a Thermostart?

Yes absolutely. Mine has it but was never connected. Your engine controls would have a pre-heat provision like a generator.

 

[jgwinks]

My T6.354's don't have thermostart. I didn't know much about Perkins when I bought the boat but on researching I read about the thermostart system. Sounded like a really bad idea for a boat, probably necessary in a farm tractor though. (There are a lot of those engines in tractors.) My engines can be a bit slow to start on a 30-40 deg F morning. If you need cold weather starting help you could probably do as well with a heat gun or hair dryer blowing into the air intake, it's just not as easy as pushing a button. I've never had to do that though. My Onan generator has a single glow plug in the air intake that works well. Something similar could probably be retrofitted.