Engine starting question

[Nick]

Afternoon, ive just put the reconditioned injectors back in my dexta, and tried to start it up. (for those of you that dont know, it hasnt run for 12years)
anyway, it smokes a bit from the exhaust and turns over fast enough, and ive rigged up a temporary oil light - this come on and goes out as it should. It sounds like its trying to go, but wont run. I havent got any of the starting aids working at the moment i.e the primer and glow plug. The primer is broken and im waiting to find a new one, i havent tried the glowplug, would just this help?
I havent got any easy start, but didnt really want to use it anyway, but if i have to, so be it.
Just to clarify, i have got fuel at the injectors, there is no air in the fuel system.

[marcusgs]

If you're sure you have fuel at all the injectors, I would just as a first startup measure do one of the following: Tow it, or remove the heater plug and insert a lighted blow lamp while turning it over, if you are doing this be aware that as soon as it fires put the glow plug back in again or it will rev it's self to bits!

[john.n]

i would just put a jump lead from the "non-earth" terminal on the battery to the glow plug. leave it for 40 seconds and then try to turn it over. dont forget to disconnect the jump lead or you will have a flat battery.

Regards,
John

[Nick]

Well earlier i tried starting it, and gave it a sniff of easy start. It fired on 1, sometimes 2 cylinders, but wouldnt run on diesel. At this point im thinking of doing one of two things. 1) Try to tow start it, or 2) Take the head off again, and take the pistons out because i suspect the rings are stuck in, and it hasnt got enough compression.

[Nick]

Also forgot to say the fuel tank was quite full of water when i got it, so i just drained the water out and hoped the old diesel would be good enough for it to run on. Does diesel go off? As far as i know its nearly 15 years old

[russelm]

Yes diesel does go off!

[Nick]

ah, well there may lie my problem then. what i might do is disconnect the fuel lines and then quickly give it a sniff to see if it fires on three, if it does i will empty the tank and temporarily connect another fuel tank to see if it will run......

[YorkshireDextaMan]

Water ?? Quite a bit of water . If water found its way to the injection system , "You got a problem".

[john.n]

why give it a sniff? why not just drain the tank and rest of system then bleed clan diesel through?

Regards,
John

[Nick]

Good point, should of said that the diesel primer tap is knackered so i dont want to fill the tank up to have to drain it again. I have a fuel tank from an old ride on mower in the shed that i can connect temporarily to see if it will go.

[john.n]

have you changed the fuel filter? that could make a big difference.

Regards,
John

[Nick]

Ive just taken the fuel filter out, and my god! There was sludge, rust, water, and a little bit of diesel. Not surprised it didnt like it. I assume that to remove the fuel tap out, you have to remove the tank aswell? which means taking the steering wheel off, and the throttle lever. The throttle lever seems very loose like somethings come adrift where it goes through the tank, is it supposed to run on something or go in a hole under the tank to locate it?

[john.n]

there is a hole in the steering box casting for the throttle rod.

Regards,
John

[Nick]

Well ive been fiddling with it for a week or so and still no joy. So i suspect the piston rings are stuck in from when the engine was seized. Is it easy enough to do a compression test? Also if i have to take the pistons out, how do i confirm the liners are still in wear limits? When i had the head off, there looked like there was very little wear.....to me anyway lol

[dexta09b]

hi there my dexta would not start last year after been idle during restoration. i done all the usual checks , in the end i had to call a local mechanic first thing he done was remove the plate on the side of the injector pump to check the rack was moving foward and back freely, he said it has to be in the maximum fuel position ie fully foward to start . he freed it up and it started first time. word of warning dont touch anything else in the injector pump, hope this helps.

[YorkshireDextaMan]

Thats a very good point you make there (me thinks) i can't really see why the rack would stick in the closed position , but if it was it would'nt perhaps inject enough fuel to start the engine. If its in the fully open position then it would not be unlike the "exsess fuel button been pressed on the Major" I think your mec. has something there. What do you think Nick, worth a look,????

[Nick]

Yeah i think it is worth a look, escecially as its been sitting for years, outside, with a bit of water in the pump. As i said there is fuel getting to the injectors, but like you say, if its not enough then it wont start. I will continue fiddling and let you know the results!............................

[YorkshireDextaMan]

Nick. As you say, you have fuel to the injectors. i just wonder if you have tried it with an injector removed and screwed to the injector pipe just to see if it sprays???
Just to add My 2PW. And this is for general reading, I think if a diesel , like a Dexta for example, wont start and if it's known to be a bit well worn. Then useing starting fluid aint going do much more harm, right, So providing theres fuel as i said earlier, then why not whip of the air cleaner pipe to inlet manifold . and with a good battery to spin it over ,(without using the heater) spray some flamable fluid in, could be anything to hand, WD40, Carburetta Cleaner, while the engine turns over, (wear eye protection) if that dont start it , SPANNER it,

[Nick]

Ive taken the side of the pump off and the rack is fully forward and moves freely with the stop lever. However on my major, the rack moves back and forward, it doesnt on the dexta, is this right?
I will try and connect an injector up outside of the head and minding myself, i will see if it sprays.
Although i think in my head ive already decided that it is the piston rings that are stuck in

[Nick]

It seems that I was right, ive taken the pistons out and nearly all the rings were stuck in. The thing is, ive got three sets of new rings, but they arent the same as the original ones. The pistons have three solid compression rings then two oil rings, the manual i have and the new ring sets ive got, have two solid compression rings then four tiny rings, then the two oil rings. Also right at the top of the piston above the top ring, is a small slot all the way around with nothing in it?
The pistons have perkins stamped inside them, any one ever come accross this before?

[blue32]

Hi Nick, I,d read all this above, and it seems that you not have the fuel line systen good enough. First you should look after is to fix your fuel tap crane with handpump, (just clean out your "fuelpipe" with some airpressure to heaterplugsystem) -second, you have to fix your heaterplug. (while pumping three or four pump together with heater some 30 - 35 second,s and if this works...you will hear a puff...and then quick try to start) -If this two main starting "tools" is damaged at any time you will not get your engine started as normaly.
Also; change your fuelfilter too.

Blue32

[Nick]

Hi, i eventually took the engine to pieces, and it has stuck piston rings. At the moment im putting it back together with new pistons/rings. Also i have changed the fuel filter, cleaned the tank out, got the injectors reconditioned, checked the timing, got the glow plug to work, and bought a decent secondhand original primer pump. So hopefully in a couple weeks, it will fire up. Will keep you updated...............

[blue32]

Oh yeah, your engine will be good as new again, ayou will be lucky too I hope.