2.25 Diesel not playing the game!!

HI,
I have acquired an old series 3 Lightweight that has at some time in its life been converted to 2.25 diesel.
It did run, and ran well, but after being laid up for 6 months now refuses to start. I have changed the heater/glow plugs and the wiring for these thinking it may have been that. The engine can be made to run by by squirting solvent into the air filter, and it does run, but only on the solvent. When the solvent is used up it runs at tick over but won't rev. I have bled and re bleed the system. I get a good squirt out of the circular body of the CAV pump but only a dribble out of the Rectangular section one. I take it this is where my problem lies. But just want to check, before i shell out a fortune on a new pump.
Cheers
Steve

Have you checked all the usual suspects like fuel filter, lift pump, and all the pipework for leaks ? And.... don't take this the wrong way, but it has got enough clean fuel in it ?? Condensation might have accumulated in the tank over the six months, and be blocking things up....

Cheers for that.
Pipework looks old, so will start there. Cheapest!!
Fuel was new/fresh, old stuff smelled like turps/white spirit so thought it best to change.
Never thought of the lift pump. But my main worry was the difference between the fuel pressures at the bleed screws on the CAV pump. Main body high, side body really low. But i don't know if that is right. Very little fuel seems to be getting to the injectors.
Thanks again
Steve

Steve Benson said:

Main body high, side body really low

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Do you mean during cranking, or during priming with the lift pump?

Also, some of the CAV pumps have a filter at one end or the other, which IME, can cause issues if there is some crud in there - perhaps the filter is missing, and the crud has found its way through into the top chamber of the pump, which, IIRC only has a linkage in it, and can be removed on the vehicle.... there are some pics on here.... do a search, they should come up.....

Don't forget the lift pump should have a gauze filter in it too....

Steve Benson said:

Very little fuel seems to be getting to the injectors.

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They can be a PITA to bleed, and IME, quite variable from one pump to the next - we've one on a tractor, which if some fool (I.E. me), runs it out out fuel, will turn the air blue - always worth slackening the injector feeds off one by one, and cranking. BUT be VERY careful, fuel at high pressure will easily enter your skin, and it won't end well

For info on the FIP, have a nosy here:-



Screenshot showing inside the top chamber

Steve Benson said:

Cheers for that.
Pipework looks old, so will start there. Cheapest!!
Fuel was new/fresh, old stuff smelled like turps/white spirit so thought it best to change.
Never thought of the lift pump. But my main worry was the difference between the fuel pressures at the bleed screws on the CAV pump. Main body high, side body really low. But i don't know if that is right. Very little fuel seems to be getting to the injectors.
Thanks again
Steve

Click to expand...

So long as fuel is running without bubbles from the bleed screws no worries. If you are getting a drip of fuel from the injector unions, it should start.

It only drips from the unions if the engine isnt running, high pressure, but not much volume.

Whilst cranking i get high pressure at the main body, drips at the rectangular side body.
Much less with lift pump.
Drips at the injector unions at cranking, but only really small amounts.

Steve Benson said:

Whilst cranking i get high pressure at the main body, drips at the rectangular side body.
Much less with lift pump.
Drips at the injector unions at cranking, but only really small amounts.

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Sounds pretty normal, do up the screws, tighten the unions while cranking, it should start.

Thats my problem, it doesn't start. I just wanted to make sure everything was "normal".
I think i need to replace the fuel lines to the lift pump as that looks ancient, so could be letting air in. Then failing that the lift pump.
Start at the cheapest fix first, I will let you know how i get on.
Cheers
Steve

Steve Benson said:

Thats my problem, it doesn't start. I just wanted to make sure everything was "normal".
I think i need to replace the fuel lines to the lift pump as that looks ancient, so could be letting air in. Then failing that the lift pump.
Start at the cheapest fix first, I will let you know how i get on.
Cheers
Steve

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Not sure if you really need to replace anything. If there is fuel at the injector unions it will start. They always do.
Could be combining with cranking speed issue, cold enough for low battery.

I had it hooked up to jump leads from my running defender so it turns over fast enough. As i said, it will start with the introduction of solvent into the air filter and seems to want to start, but it just seems like fuel starvation. Which is how i came up with checking the output of the pump. The odd drip of diesel from the injector pipes is what got me thinking of fuel pumps. But, being as that is "normal" i think i should start with the fuel lines and air leaks. Which i suppose is the easiest/cheapest first and take it from there.

Steve Benson said:

I had it hooked up to jump leads from my running defender so it turns over fast enough. As i said, it will start with the introduction of solvent into the air filter and seems to want to start, but it just seems like fuel starvation. Which is how i came up with checking the output of the pump. The odd drip of diesel from the injector pipes is what got me thinking of fuel pumps. But, being as that is "normal" i think i should start with the fuel lines and air leaks. Which i suppose is the easiest/cheapest first and take it from there.

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Up to you, but we find if fuel drips from the injector unions on cranking. it will start, unless there is another issue.

Always best to get it running if you can, indirect injection arent very good at cold starts anyway.

If we can get fuel at the injectors, we tow em up the lane with a tractor, they start.

Air leaks in the suction side of the low pressure system, probably no fuel at the unions.

If you can get it going, bit of petrol in the fuel will clean out the system.

Now, what about the injectors being blocked/gummed up?
It starts with solvent, but won't rev.

Steve Benson said:

Now, what about the injectors being blocked/gummed up?
It starts with solvent, but won't rev.

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Havent commonly seen it, maybe one or two, but not all four, unless it has run rubbish fuel and been left for donkeys years.

If you can get it to run you may be able to clean with petrol. If not, pull them out, and get them tested.

Just had a look at your first post.

If it runs on idle, cleaning the system with petrol is very likely to help, if mixing a gallon of petrol in a tank of diesel doesnt work, try removing the fuel filter and filling it with petrol, then bleed and restart.

Square thing on the side of the pump is the mechanical governor housing, BTW,

I have an ultrasonic cleaner/bath that i bought to do motorcycle carbs and stuff in. I might pull out the injectors and stick them in that for a while, it can't hurt. Should i stick them in petrol?
So far my list of jobs are
1. Replace fuel line from tank to lift pump
2. Pull out and clean the injectors
3. Fill fuel filter with petrol and re-bleed system
Thats for starters, and i will see where we are from then.
Thanks again
Steve

I wouldn't use petrol in the ultrasonic !! ( not sure if you were suggesting that, but ) - we use Allandale's own carb cleaner ( http://www.allendale-ultrasonics.co.uk/ ) additive for cleaning all manner of stuff in our ultrasonic cleaners, and find it very good - IIRC, we also find them very good on tech support over the phone - (but a colleague does that bit, so I might be wrong).

I'd add 1 to your list - re my post above (#2) - have a look in the pump unions for a filter, and clean as required....

Sorry, i was suggesting soaking the injectors in petrol overnight or/and then sticking them in the cleaner.
Thanks guys for all of the help and suggestions. I will let you know how i get on.
No doubt i'll be along with another question/problem soon.
Cheers
Steve

Steve Benson said:

Sorry, i was suggesting soaking the injectors in petrol overnight or/and then sticking them in the cleaner.
Thanks guys for all of the help and suggestions. I will let you know how i get on.
No doubt i'll be along with another question/problem soon.
Cheers
Steve

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I wouldnt. If you are concerned about them, take them for testing.

If there is fuel at the injectors it should go, mine used to need a bit more than a dribble though.
If stood my 11a used to have a problem with the fuel pump valves, is yours pumping well?