Timing my 7.3 N/a IDI

[ISPKI]

Might be too late for this to help, but if the engine was hot and wouldn't start after 20-40 mins you could have a classic hot-start problem. It's a sign of a dying IP for sure, but at least as a bandaid you can pour room-temp water over the head of the IP(right behind where the injector lines connect) and try again. This cools it off and condenses the internal tolerances. Should start right up if that's the failure point. Pour about 1/2 liter over and try it out. If it works always keep water in the cab!

It's caused by wear, makes the tolerances inside the pump too large at starting RPM to pump the required PSI. Another thing that helps is a killer starter where that thing really spins over like crazy.
https://www.oilburners.net/threads/new-starter-for-me-powermaster-9050.86228/#post-1033527

I actually just installed a brand new
h//www.dbelectrical.com/products/ford-truck-case-6-9l-7-3l-diesel-starter-f250-f350-1985-1994-hi-tork.html high torque offset starter with brand new 4/0 power and ground cables and I barely notice a difference in cranking speed. I had poured half a bottle of water over the I and tried to start it after about 45 mins but got no fire, haven't tried to start it since it got towed back home.

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

Dang. Sounds like you have done some good work trouble shooting.

Unless I missed it, next step is checking fuel pressure and then cracking injectors to verify fuel from them.

 

[Thewespaul]

After changing the timing, did you tighten all three nuts for the ip or just one?

 

[ISPKI]

After changing the timing, did you tighten all three nuts for the ip or just one?

I tightened them all down fairly well. Had to grind my nice wrench to get the closed end on them. I didnt check to see if it moved, that may be possible.

So, I started the truck up yesterday to haul some large logs and it started OK and ran great for several hours, hauled some serious logs with it, several 20+ft 4+ft diameter hauling down a road and right into my wood pile. Truck barely noticed it was pulling anything. At least I wont have to worry about collecting firewood for the rest of the year, and i'll save on heating gas so I can blow all that savings on fixing my truck!

Arighty, I will look into testing fuel pressure. That would tell me for sure if the IP is worn to hell?

Unfortunately, I didnt make a new mark for the timing after I adjusted it so it may be difficult to tell if it moved.

 

[Thewespaul]

I doubt it moved, I’ve just seen guys only tighten one or two nuts and the thrust load snap the driveshaft

 

[Selahdoor]

I doubt it moved, I’ve just seen guys only tighten one or two nuts and the thrust load snap the driveshaft

Ouch! That's a high price for negligence.





Man, I wish I could find someone close enough, to time mine.

I looked at that list. If I could afford the drive to the closest person to me, I could afford to buy the tools and learn to do it myself.