Series 2 1965 restoration, Diesel engine won't start

(In my case)

The engine block had been at the rebuilders and had thus been through his big industrial dishwasher. I like the U-POL slow degreaser which helps get muck out of the crevices of the casting. I then used brake cleaner to blast out the rest of the crud. After that (phew!) I used Eastwoods "Pre" painting degreaser which seems to be pretty much magic at helping paint to stick to surfaces.

I've done several engine blocks in this way and they have all (touch wood) lasted - the HMG engine enamel seems like it is a good product I hope it lasts as well as the POR-15 engine paints I've been using up until now.

As for the correct colour - this is the correct colour for diesel engines (I'm not sure about petrol engines of the same era - sorry)

youmitegetian said:

I did think about blasting it as I have a friend who does that for a job but hadn't planned on a total strip down. Tempted to leave the head in place, did you paint the head the same colour?

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Never done one of those. On later engines, the block is red, head is black.

Is the engine a std 2.25d
where are you squiring the easy start when you try it? if its going to go should start on that.
Have you checked for stick valves in case its its compression is getting away.
Nick.

I was spraying it into the intake. It almost went yesterday with the glowplug conversion but for some reason within about 5 attempts of heating them up the have all failed. Britpart rubbish maybe, can't see another reason why they should fail so quickly.
I'll probably just pull the engine now. I checked the injectors by attaching them to the fuel lines but out of the head and it definitely has good compression.
Ill rebuilt the pump etc while it's out and then give it a go in the bench

Do you have a test rig for the diesel pump?

No but as it hasn't been used for a long time I figured it's long overdue a rebuild anyway,
Saying that the injectors did seem to work ok but without the glowplug a I'm not suprised it wouldn't go

youmitegetian said:

No but as it hasn't been used for a long time I figured it's long overdue a rebuild anyway,
Saying that the injectors did seem to work ok but without the glowplug a I'm not suprised it wouldn't go

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I don't wish to appear rude but it sounds to me like you don't realise the importance of not messing with injector pumps - especially if you have no way of setting them up.

Whilst the internet is full of "give it a tweak" and "whack it right up" solutions, if you're not careful I think you might be making more trouble for yourself.

If the injector pump is dry on the outside - as in you can't see any leaks - then I'd leave well alone and treat it as OK until you've tried other things.

My advice is to check the camshaft timing and the pump timing before removing and assuming because it is old it is no good

youmitegetian said:

No but as it hasn't been used for a long time I figured it's long overdue a rebuild anyway,
Saying that the injectors did seem to work ok but without the glowplug a I'm not suprised it wouldn't go

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Shouldn't need glowplugs in the UK, unless it's part of the fuel sensor system as in a TD5 ...

Could be good advice. It is dry,
And it is pumping fuel. Just didn't seem to be a lot but I know its deceptive how little fuel comes out until the engine is running

Dippypud said:

Shouldn't need glowplugs in the UK, unless it's part of the fuel sensor system as in a TD5 ...

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a 2.25 or 2.5 will need heat as the are indirect injection

I've heard these old 2.25 diesels take a lot of starting without heat. And i believe it hasn't been run for a long time.
A friend of mine has a series 2a and his wouldn't start without the plugs on for a good 30 seconds even on a hot day,
He's changed to a 200tdi engine now

When you say you wjere spraying easy start into the intake...could you be more precise...was that into the airfilter??

Or direct into the intake manifold???

Directly into the inlet manifold. Air filter and pipe work was removed

Did you try (carefully) holding a burning rag near to the air intake trick, it's risky but it always worked on temperamental bus engines.

Col

youmitegetian said:

I was spraying it into the intake. It almost went yesterday with the glowplug conversion but for some reason within about 5 attempts of heating them up the have all failed. Britpart rubbish maybe, can't see another reason why they should fail so quickly.
I'll probably just pull the engine now. I checked the injectors by attaching them to the fuel lines but out of the head and it definitely has good compression.
Ill rebuilt the pump etc while it's out and then give it a go in the bench

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Make sure they are wired as they should be.
Did you get the ones with th ceramic tops or the modern ones.

youmitegetian said:

I was spraying it into the intake. It almost went yesterday with the glowplug conversion but for some reason within about 5 attempts of heating them up the have all failed. Britpart rubbish maybe, can't see another reason why they should fail so quickly.
I'll probably just pull the engine now. I checked the injectors by attaching them to the fuel lines but out of the head and it definitely has good compression.
Ill rebuilt the pump etc while it's out and then give it a go in the bench

Click to expand...

Go easy o the easystart, it will ruin your engine if you overdo it.

Dippypud said:

Shouldn't need glowplugs in the UK, unless it's part of the fuel sensor system as in a TD5 ...

Click to expand...

Indirect injectors will start on a tow with no glow plugs, on the starter maybe a different story.

From my experience...a cold 2.25d will be a bugger to start without heater plugs.