OK so I've spent the last 2/3 days trying to research how to tune my IP pump... Its been a challenge to find a step by step description of the process. So for all those other folks who have IP questions how about we try and put together an IP pumps for dummies thread.
I'm the perfect guy to start it. I just swapped mine out for a rebuilt one. With no relative positive effects. I'm not far from going to a diesel shop although I've read countless warnings against doing exactly that.
assuming you remove and install the IP correctly IE, didn't screw up the drive gear then we eventually get to tune the little darling.
several issues that effect tuning one of these things.
1) lack of availability of the proper tools. IE a few specialty items that are a must, are very expensive, and are not easy to find at your local used parts counter.
timing light.
very expensive, most shops don't seem to have them, so how do they get these things tuned ? They are available for rent, (Icanfixitall) but all of them are rented out. Its either park your truck and twiddle your thumbs, or find another solution. Today's question is, how do you alter the timing on the 7.3 IDI diesel?
pyrometer
The mystery begins, if its something that I was supposed to have provided a threaded hole for somewhere on this new $600 dollar set of Stans Whopping Pain in the Ass Headers, then nope. not happening any time soon either. Haven't found a hand held one yet ( OK just found then, laser sensor, about $100 ) but the dash mounted ones seem to be a few hundred bucks and although the pictures available on the net are worthy of our best microscopes it seems like they have a screw in probe of some kind that likely screws into the exhaust somewhere. Except on mine. Solution, buy the hand held laser site good to 1000F model.
Turn the IP.
Apparently this retards or advances the injection of fuel into the cylinder. I suspect this is whats meant by "timing" a diesel, but that ones still up in the air. Tried it, not as easy as it sounds and once accomplished made no discernible difference, as least going towards the passenger side, tomorrow maybe I'll dismantle it again and try setting it to the drivers side. One trick I did learn tho, a chain style oil wrench works wonders to pursued this thing to move. Cause its a *****. Question, if turning the Ip as far as it can to the passenger side from its original position centered does nothing, what might that indicate?
Safety tip
don't turn the IP when the engine is running, apparently this can screw it up.
Fuel
Apparently if your some kinda contortionist you can get at the mystery screw that turns up the fuel. Rumor has it, its easy to do, but spills fuel. I haven't gotten desperate enough to try this yet.
Sounds pretty simple, turn up the fuel or rotate the pump, except one thing, without the proper tools to measure what your doing, you might as well be Donkeyote.
two days in and I've had no luck trying to tune this engine, still smokes like a ***** at low RPM although that could be the fuel being slightly contaminated with WMO. It idles and runs fine, but no power. Very frustrating. Tomorrow I rotate the pump to the drivers side and see what happens. If I see no difference with it turned as much as it will go in either direction I can only conclude that there is a much deeper problem than what can be addressed with the typical tuning techniques.
Maybe we can get a blow by blow description of how the fight is supposed to go and from there many of us novices might find some solace in the knowing.
I'm the perfect guy to start it. I just swapped mine out for a rebuilt one. With no relative positive effects. I'm not far from going to a diesel shop although I've read countless warnings against doing exactly that.
assuming you remove and install the IP correctly IE, didn't screw up the drive gear then we eventually get to tune the little darling.
several issues that effect tuning one of these things.
1) lack of availability of the proper tools. IE a few specialty items that are a must, are very expensive, and are not easy to find at your local used parts counter.
timing light.
very expensive, most shops don't seem to have them, so how do they get these things tuned ? They are available for rent, (Icanfixitall) but all of them are rented out. Its either park your truck and twiddle your thumbs, or find another solution. Today's question is, how do you alter the timing on the 7.3 IDI diesel?
pyrometer
The mystery begins, if its something that I was supposed to have provided a threaded hole for somewhere on this new $600 dollar set of Stans Whopping Pain in the Ass Headers, then nope. not happening any time soon either. Haven't found a hand held one yet ( OK just found then, laser sensor, about $100 ) but the dash mounted ones seem to be a few hundred bucks and although the pictures available on the net are worthy of our best microscopes it seems like they have a screw in probe of some kind that likely screws into the exhaust somewhere. Except on mine. Solution, buy the hand held laser site good to 1000F model.
Turn the IP.
Apparently this retards or advances the injection of fuel into the cylinder. I suspect this is whats meant by "timing" a diesel, but that ones still up in the air. Tried it, not as easy as it sounds and once accomplished made no discernible difference, as least going towards the passenger side, tomorrow maybe I'll dismantle it again and try setting it to the drivers side. One trick I did learn tho, a chain style oil wrench works wonders to pursued this thing to move. Cause its a *****. Question, if turning the Ip as far as it can to the passenger side from its original position centered does nothing, what might that indicate?
Safety tip
don't turn the IP when the engine is running, apparently this can screw it up.
Fuel
Apparently if your some kinda contortionist you can get at the mystery screw that turns up the fuel. Rumor has it, its easy to do, but spills fuel. I haven't gotten desperate enough to try this yet.
Sounds pretty simple, turn up the fuel or rotate the pump, except one thing, without the proper tools to measure what your doing, you might as well be Donkeyote.
two days in and I've had no luck trying to tune this engine, still smokes like a ***** at low RPM although that could be the fuel being slightly contaminated with WMO. It idles and runs fine, but no power. Very frustrating. Tomorrow I rotate the pump to the drivers side and see what happens. If I see no difference with it turned as much as it will go in either direction I can only conclude that there is a much deeper problem than what can be addressed with the typical tuning techniques.
Maybe we can get a blow by blow description of how the fight is supposed to go and from there many of us novices might find some solace in the knowing.
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