Club 80-90 Forums

My leisurely DG to SB install is nearing completion and I would like to try and start it before completing the wiring and neatening everything up.
I bought it without hearing it run so I want to start it before wasting any more time making everything as close to a factory install as possible)
Is there a clever way to prime the fuel pump with fresh diesel?
The tank isn’t plumbed in yet so I will be using a fuel can.
No glow plug relay either so the plan is to use a slave battery and a jump lead to give the glow plugs a 30 sec. pulse.
Does the pump need 12v to run or is the solenoid for cutting off the fuel?
Any other tips for starting an engine that has stood for about 12 months?
On a related note the dipstick (from a JX) doesn’t seem to reach the flap so I am a little apprehensive of trusting it to determine the correct oil level, will 4.5 litres (New oil filter fitted) be enough ? (I am a little wary of over filling it)

Thanks

Stop solenoid will need +12v to run.
A jump lead on the glow plugs will be fine however hard wire it to the bus bar as it will be very easy to short out as there is very little room.
4.3lt of oil is the correct amount.
I find it best to remove the vac pump and use a battery drill on slow speed with a ground down flat wood drill in the oil pump drive to prime the system, I connect my wet pressure guage up as well to check decent pressure before starting.
If you have changed the timing belt be sure to turn it over with a spanner at least 2 full revolutions before using the starter.

Forgot to mention a vac pump is the best way of priming the pump.

Thanks for the info,
Unfortunately no vac pump to prime the fuel but I will follow the other tips and keep everything crossed

If you don't have a vac pump, you can suck the fuel up using lung power, but...............

Eliminate the risk of getting lungs full of diesel by using a glass jar as a break vessel. Punch a couple of holes in the lid, which are a tight fit to transparent tubing, which goes just through the lid. Then you can suck away (carefully) on one tube till fuel pours into the jar from the other.

Once the pump is full, you can crank the engine with ignition on and throttle wide open. Crack open the nut on each injector in turn till fuel spurts out. Catch the flying diesel in a cloth to stop it going everywhere, and be prepared for the engine to start at any point. Be careful!

O.K,
The engine is turning over nicely,but the pump doesn't seem to be drawing any diesel through,is there a bleed screw on the pump anywhere ?
Thanks

Its possible that the lift pump inside the ip is gummed up if its been stood for a while. First thing to do is make sure the ip is full by either pumping fuel in or drawing it through and out the return.

colinthefox wrote:If you don't have a vac pump, you can suck the fuel up using lung power, but...............

Eliminate the risk of getting lungs full of diesel by using a glass jar as a break vessel. Punch a couple of holes in the lid, which are a tight fit to transparent tubing, which goes just through the lid. Then you can suck away (carefully) on one tube till fuel pours into the jar from the other.

I've never thought of this, great idea! It's going to make nicking fuel much more fun!

I had this problem on my 1Y install. I back filled the pump by taking off the diesel return line banjo (on the top of the pump) and poured fresh fuel in to the pump with a small funnel. You have to pour slowly but it takes a fair bit and personally that saved me from cracking the injectors, I've now done it three times and on each engine it's worked a treat.
Best Regards James

Wey hehy it starts!
Thanks for all the tips BUT it will only run for a few seconds then cuts out. If I suck diesel through the return pipe so the pump is full of fuel it will run for 1-2 minutes but won't rev. and then cuts out. with an injector nut cracked open a small amount of diesel dribbles out but not as much as I was expecting and no fuel is making its way via the return pipe to the container I have set up to catch it.
Any ideas ?
Thanks

So you fill the pump manualy and it runs until the pump empties itself?

Does your fuel filter have tge plastic valve on top?

Best thing to do at this point would be to rig up a fuel supply to gravity feed the pump as it sounds like lift pump vanes stuck. Gravity feeding the pump should make it run without stopping. Run it like this for 10 minutes or so then lower the fuel supply and see what happens.

Hi,
That’s it in a nut shell
It is running from a can at the moment, probably on a level with the pump. As soon as I get some time I’ll try raising it as high above the pump as I can and see what happens.
If the lift pump vanes are “gummed up” are the likely to free off if I run diesel through it or is it a pump re-build ?
Thanks

If the fuel can is above the pump, the engine will run, but it won't rev. As soon as I try and bring the can down below the level of the pump, it cuts out. Is this likely to be the lift pump? Also, if I keep trying to run some diesel through it, will it get better, or is there anything else I can try and run through to clear the pump? Also does anyone know whether an alternative pump will work, such as one from a JR or JX engine?
Thanks for all the help so far, any other tips would be useful.

Sound like its the lift pump, you could try running some bio diesel through it or maybe a cleaner additive.
An alternative is to rig up one of the small facet electric fuel pumps.
Any of the idi pumps will run that engine however the lda on the jx pump is not as good as the one on the sb engine and would be a downgrade. You could always buy a seal kit and strip the pump its alot easier than you think and there is plenty of info on the net just search "bosch ve pump rebuild".

Hi there.

Just wondering if you resolved this problem since I have similar issues with my pump (recently fitted).

Thanks