When we Prime a dry idi, we usually leave the glowplugs out. We then crank the engine several times stopping to keep from frying the starter.
We crank the engine until diesel starts to spray out of the glow plug holes. By the time it sprays out al the holes. It usually fires right away once the glow,plugs are in.
The reason we do it this way, aside from making a big mess, is that the engine cranks really fast so the pump primes the lines rather quickly.
It also confirms that were getting fuel to the cylinders. If we don't get fuel, then we know something is wrong elsewhere