Monday afternoon I was buttoning up all of the work I had done to the '88 F-250 (I recently posted about installing a 3G alternator and new fuel injectors). I removed the injection pump top cover because I was curious to see inside of it (which was stupid, because I think it led to the issue I am currently having). I reinstalled the top cover, barred the engine over to line the hex fuel screw up with the side cover, removed the side cover, turned the fuel up two flats, reinstalled the side cover, double-checked everything, and fired it up. WHOOPS! I had reinstalled the top cover incorrectly and the engine revved way up. I quickly removed the fuel filter and the engine shut off within 15 seconds. (Whew, close call!) I removed the injection pump top cover, fiddled around, got it lined up correctly and reinstalled it. Cranked it over again and it fired up, this time idling around 900 RPM and sounding fine.
I took it for about a 20 mile drive and as I was on my way home I noticed a slight stumble. The rear fuel tank was being used and the fuel gauge for the rear tank does not work, so I assumed the rear tank was running low on fuel and switched to the front tank. No problem, it seemed to run fine; I stopped by the fuel station to fill both tanks up with diesel. After filling them up with diesel, I cranked the engine and it just spun over. The engine cranked just as it normally does, but it would not actually start and there wasn't any white smoke coming out of the tailpipe (which told me I wasn't getting any fuel). Of course I hadn't brought any tools with me, but the fuel station is only about 1/4 mile from my house, so I walked home, grabbed a couple of tools to bleed air from the Schrader valve on the filter head and walked back to the truck. I installed an electric fuel pump a couple of weeks ago, so I turned it on while holding the Schrader valve open and quite a lot of air came out. Eventually, a steady stream of fuel came out, so I closed the Schrader valve and tried to start it again. Same thing as last time: it would spin just fine, but it would not fire. (Also, there was no white smoke coming from the tailpipe.) Acknowledging defeat, I walked home, grabbed my '89 F-250, asked my wife to give me a hand for a few minutes, and together we towed the '88 F-250 home.
I let it sit yesterday and decided this morning that I would fix it. I have literally removed the injection pump top cover six (maybe seven?) times, and I am pretty sure that I have it lined up correctly. Each time I turn the key on to open the FSS it clicks, but it is sort of a squishy sounding click, not a snap like I would have expected. I think the first (or maybe the second?) time I reassembled the top cover I replaced the black rubber fuel return line with a clear plastic line to see if fuel was actually coming from the injection pump to the fuel return line. It did the first or second time and I tried to start it, but it would just turn over and not start. I've done this several times, there is no fuel coming out of the clear plastic return line and each time the engine will turn over but will not start; there is no smoke coming out of the tailpipe.
I'm at a loss: I have searched around here on OB and looked at three or four different Stanadyne DB2 manuals online to understand the correct interface between the FSS lever in the IP top cover and the lever it engages in the IP main body. I also watched this video:
I took it for about a 20 mile drive and as I was on my way home I noticed a slight stumble. The rear fuel tank was being used and the fuel gauge for the rear tank does not work, so I assumed the rear tank was running low on fuel and switched to the front tank. No problem, it seemed to run fine; I stopped by the fuel station to fill both tanks up with diesel. After filling them up with diesel, I cranked the engine and it just spun over. The engine cranked just as it normally does, but it would not actually start and there wasn't any white smoke coming out of the tailpipe (which told me I wasn't getting any fuel). Of course I hadn't brought any tools with me, but the fuel station is only about 1/4 mile from my house, so I walked home, grabbed a couple of tools to bleed air from the Schrader valve on the filter head and walked back to the truck. I installed an electric fuel pump a couple of weeks ago, so I turned it on while holding the Schrader valve open and quite a lot of air came out. Eventually, a steady stream of fuel came out, so I closed the Schrader valve and tried to start it again. Same thing as last time: it would spin just fine, but it would not fire. (Also, there was no white smoke coming from the tailpipe.) Acknowledging defeat, I walked home, grabbed my '89 F-250, asked my wife to give me a hand for a few minutes, and together we towed the '88 F-250 home.
I let it sit yesterday and decided this morning that I would fix it. I have literally removed the injection pump top cover six (maybe seven?) times, and I am pretty sure that I have it lined up correctly. Each time I turn the key on to open the FSS it clicks, but it is sort of a squishy sounding click, not a snap like I would have expected. I think the first (or maybe the second?) time I reassembled the top cover I replaced the black rubber fuel return line with a clear plastic line to see if fuel was actually coming from the injection pump to the fuel return line. It did the first or second time and I tried to start it, but it would just turn over and not start. I've done this several times, there is no fuel coming out of the clear plastic return line and each time the engine will turn over but will not start; there is no smoke coming out of the tailpipe.
I'm at a loss: I have searched around here on OB and looked at three or four different Stanadyne DB2 manuals online to understand the correct interface between the FSS lever in the IP top cover and the lever it engages in the IP main body. I also watched this video:
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Assuming the information in the video is correct, I'm pretty sure the IP top cover is attached to the IP body correctly. On Monday evening, once I had the IP reassembled "correctly" it seemed to run fine (other than the slight stumble previously mentioned) until I got fuel. I can say for sure it is getting fuel to the filter head, but it seems like the injection pump is not getting fuel. Any ideas?
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