Ok, reading through the Glow plug tuning thread.
Tuning by knock.
My truck has the knock at idle, and highway cruise but it goes away on heavy acceleration. Is this normal or what it is supposed to do?

New to diesels.

 

The Power Stroke rattle which is hard to describe would be the same thing as spark knock on a gasoline engine.

I usually set mine to have the rattle at idle with the cold advance on.
Even at higher RPM, but I do limit how much throttle I use while the engine is still cold.
The timing advance kicks off at 112 degrees coolant temp.
After the timing advance kicks off, the engine is rattle free.

 

Just got a Kent-Moore tach n time on e-bay, have to say it works great. Here is what I discovered now that I can accurately set the timing. This set up uses the pulse method. At Idle the timeing runs @ 14.4 BTDC, as I advance the fuel lever it increase up to about 17 +/- as it is accelerating, then settles out to 8.3 BTDC at 2000 rpm per the factory spec for this engine and year. I also have my old IP appart for new seals etc, and I have to say I don't quite understand yet how the advance lever on the drivers side of the IP works, but sufficent to say that while driving the timing is completely variable as to the fuel lever position, whether acclerating or cruising, and varies dependant on rpm.
Also with the meter in use, I have confirmed dynamic timing settings to be "right" are just a Dave sayed in the previous post. Under accelleration with a cold engine and advance on, it "rattles" (clack clack) noticeably, once the cold advance kicks off the rattle is gone. Just a referance, the timing marks on the top of the IP and gear cover are about 1/2 scribe line towards the passanger side on my truck at this setting. Hope this information is helpful.

 

Kevin...Check out this link--hope it helps.

http://www.oliverdiesel.com/tech/howdb2pumpworks.htm

Dennis