Need some help from the techs

[imthemedic]

I am looking at a 94 powerstroke down the road for just a farm truck. Nothing nice just something for those 4 or 5 snowy days and to beat around in. It is a late model 94 powerstroke F250 4x4 with the 4 speed plus OD manual tranny with 295,*** miles.
The truck is rough well extra rough but I don't care about looks for my purposes. The truck has been sitting for 6 months, the guy bought it off someone who had it for a year or two. He said the clutch was bad and replaced it and the slave cylinder. After doing that it still wasn't right so the guy sold it to the current owner who never really drove it himself. He is a young kid in college and just needs to sell it due to financial issues.
So I drove the truck, 1st the clutch pedal only travels a few inches until it bottoms out to the floor. The clutch engages about a 1/4" off the floor. It doesn't like to go in gear when sitting still. When you pull it against the gear it makes a slight grinding sound and won't engage. If you rev the motor high and step on the clutch and pull it will fall into gear most of the time. Once in gear and moving it does seem to shift fine with a little force. Sycronizer? Do these have a brake that stops the rotation when steping on the clutch like big trucks?
2nd the truck ran fine actually good once in gear. However after about an 1/2 hour of running and idleing when I went to drive it again it died and wouldn't start back. It cranks over and tries to start sputters then dies. The batteries are shot so it has to be jumped or pulled. It would do the samething either way we tried. Both tanks showed fuel in them on the guages and we switched tanks with no difference in results. Fuel filter? Im not a diesel mechanic and the kid has no clue about it.
I can buy it for 1800 as of right now so thats the only reason I was interested or I would just walk.....

 

[Diesel_brad]

Sounds like clutch pedal linkage is worn

 

[94f450sd]

Check the clutch linkage under the dash.have someones step on the clutch while you watch the clutch master cylinder to see if the firewall is cracked.also ch eck the bellhousing on the transmission for cracks.

when trying to start it does the tachometer move? Any smoke from the exhaust? Check the oil.

The psd really isn't a good choice for what you want to use it for.it isnt an engine that you can pound on and do no maintenance on

 

[82F100SWB]

The no start could just be the batts, if battery voltage is less than 10.5 when cranking, it will NOT turn on the injectors.
I second 94f450sd, is the tach working, is there smoke, hows the oil level? If the oil level is too low, around a gallon to a gallon and a half or so below full, it won't run either, no oil for the HPOP, and it may hit stumble and die.

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

Look at the clutch linkage, especially the plastic bushings at the pivot points, change the oil (very important to have the correct oil in a PSD), get two known good batteries and lastly: consider buying another truck. Nothing wrong with PowerStrokes but I don't think buying one that doesn't have service history with big miles is a good idea at any price, especially not running. For instance, if you have to put injectors in it, well let's just say it's not a $300 parts bill like it is for an IDI.

I can find nice older IDIs out here for $2-3K all the time, every once in a while I see one for 1500-1800, which I think is very reasonable for a "not-everyday winter truck"

Good luck whichever way you go.