okay when starting a non running diesel... if it not getting fuel should it not at least try to hit?
why I ask I'm trying to resurect a sitting diesel tryed the "ether" no hit tried a gas soked rag no hit.... or does the deisel have to have fuel running to it to hit?

if it doesn't Hit on either or the gas rag does this mean $$$$ to fix????

ps had a mechanic tell me it won't start until glow plugs work

 

It should fire on ether with no fuel and the injection pump off the engine as long as it cranks over fast enough.

If it is cold it may not start on fuel without the glow plugs.

My glow plugs are manual, as long as the engine is at least 60 degrees I never use the glow plugs.

What is supposed to be the problem with it?
Does it have a manual tranny?
Are parts removed from the engine?

 

Your mechanic is right. No 'hits' til the glow plugs work. The IDI engines use a separate little prechamber to get combustion going before shooting the hot burning gases out over the top of the piston. Lot of advantages to this design; one disadvantage is that there's a lot of cast iron to soak up the heat generated by compression. In a cold engine, there's just not enough heat left to fire the injected fuel. This is actually a good news thing for you. Had the GP's been working, the gas/ether would have ignited when it hit the gowing red-hot tip of the GP, regardless of where the piston was. This usually occurs on the compression stroke, a little over halfway up (45 - 50 degrees BTDC). The push of combustion tries to shove the piston back down. Since it can't (usually) overcome flywheel momentum, this just means a screaming great strain on the rod bearings. That's the reason for all the warnings on using starting aids on a GP engine.

Check the cheap stuff first.

Is there power to the glow plugs? Backtrack to the relay and see if power is getting there. When you turn the key on, does power flow through the relay? Maybe it's nothing more than an open wire or a bad relay. Replacing a wire or doing the 'pushbutton GP fix' is fairly cheap. (happy! happy! happy!)

Are you getting fuel to the back of the injection pump? If not, check the output at the lift pump. Nothing at the lift pump? Could be a clogged fuel line or a bad lift pump. Blow the line out with compressed air. Before you reconnect it, crank the engine over and hold your finger against the suction side of the pump. Feel suction? Connect the fuel supply line and try again. No suction, think about replacing the mechanical pump with an electric one. Makes filter changes a breeze and it's a (fairly) cheap fix. If you're getting fuel out of the lift pump, but not to the IP, check your fuel filter; it's probably clogged. (another cheap fix) If fuel is getting to the IP, crack open an injector line and see if there's fuel flow to the individual injectors. If not, then yup, you're looking at some $$$. IP rebuild runs around $450 - $600 depending on where you are. If you have to have the pump rebuilt, pull the injectors and take them along, too. The pump shop can check them out for you and rebuild those that need it. That way, you take care of all your fuel issues at one time.

Dave Barbieri

 

1. was running went to start it would not hit
2. all parts on motor
3. glow plugs are already on a push button
4. stupid automatic

so I have one saying it will hit on either with no fuel one say's it wont?

list of things I plan on doing

1. checking lift pump
2. checking that little seliniod for fuel shut off
3. checking GP
4. if all that good then I'll crack the injector lines to see if the IP is bad

good news is buddy got a one with a rod through the pan he said I could have any parts I want IP lift pump starter

 

[QUOTE=Dave Sponaugle]It should fire on ether with no fuel and the injection pump off the engine as long as it cranks over fast enough.

If it is cold it may not start on fuel without the glow plugs.

Gotta agree with Dave on this one,as long as there is enough of the engine assembled to give you compression and its spinning good,ether will make it fire,if there is no fuel as soon as the ether is burned it will shut back down,just like a gasser burning a prime.