DT466 first start help needed

[Clayton]

I was hoping someone could help. I did a in frame overhaul on a 1996 DT466. It's a mechanical engine, no electronics. I can't seem to get fuel to the injectors. I cracked the lines at the injectors and turned it over a whole bunch. And nothing. I did put a new filter on it and cleaned the strainer as well. When I push the primer thing, it does not get hard. Any suggestions? I'll attach a photo
Also, with the amount I turned it over I would expect the oil pressure gauge to register. But it hasn't yet. Maybe it has to run a bit first? Thanks, I have built many gas engines but this is my first diesel.

[Clayton]

Here is the photo:

[BlackJohn]

You mentioned cracking the lines to bleed but you did not say if you got fuel delivery. Have you or not?

John

[Clayton]

No fuel delivery yet

[cadillackid]

when you put in the new filters did you pre-fill them with fuel? same with oil filter ..it takes a long time to fill up both oil filters if they werent filled when you installed them.

if you loosen the pressure line coming from the primer pump to the main pump, you should be able to get fuel there.. until you get fuel there you wont have any up at the injectors. and it may be that your primer pump is just building up air pressure into the main pump making it tough to get any fuel. if that line is loosened it may make things easier to prime
-Christopher

[Clayton]

Yes all filters were filled.

[cadillackid]

I know if my DT360 loses prime.. which it seems to liek to do. (and trhats without disassembly). i have to pump that primer pump quite a bit. (50X or more) to get fuel up.. and thats without it being torn down and rebuilt.
-Christopher

[Clayton]

I loosened the bleeder screw on the filter housing and fuel came out. Also I am getting a small amount of fuel on number 6 but no others.

I am not feeling good about cranking it over so much with no oil pressure. Hummm

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Clayton

I loosened the bleeder screw on the filter housing and fuel came out. Also I am getting a small amount of fuel on number 6 but no others.

I am not feeling good about cranking it over so much with no oil pressure. Hummm

Trust your gut. Don't crank it until something is pushing fuel up to it. Some filter/separators have primer bulb- push 100 times. Some engines run lift pump 15 seconds on each key bump- no need to keep cranking. listen for whirr of lift pump.

I moved lift pump on my 5.9L cummins from sucking by engine to pushing in back by tank as injection pumps $$$ are expensive and can be fussy about pressure. Lift pump are happier pushing fuel.

[BlackJohn]

Originally Posted by Clayton

I loosened the bleeder screw on the filter housing and fuel came out. Also I am getting a small amount of fuel on number 6 but no others.

I am not feeling good about cranking it over so much with no oil pressure. Hummm

All but #6 aren't getting fuel so you still have air in there.

How long did this bus sit without running?

I forgot exactly what you rebuilt but what's that about? Did it go well or do you think it may have issues because of something you did?

You need a good plan of attack or your starter will be toast heating it up like this.

Get rid of the air and think well what's next? Old dirty fuel, better buy a lot of filters till you get it clean again.

Air filter good? Water in fuel? Drained that lately? Making steam is not a good thing in the cylinders if any moisture might be in there.
You might get lucky and get it going but sounds like a lot of maintenance ahead to get running good again.

I don't think you'll see oil pressure on the guage till there is some flow happening so not till it runs. Then it should settle down to whatever level of pressure it is supposed to be when the oils has warmed up and circulated and forcing air out of the system.

John

[Clayton]

Scratch that, no fuel to any injectors. I must of had some left over fuel just spit out before. I got fuel from the bleeder at the filter and the one on the pump. But when I crack the injector connections, and crank it, no fuel gets there.

It sat for 2 months as it was rebuilt. The rebuild was due to leaky cylinder liners. And I did the liners, bearings, head, and had the injectors rebuilt.

No fuel is getting to the injectors.

Im puzzled.....

[BlackJohn]

You better start at the beginning and see where you do get fuel. You must have 2 filters for fuel and one with a water separator. Drain it everyday.
Is the lift pump any good or no fuel from it?
I'd be charging the batteries too and testing voltage in them. You are certainly going to drain them fast at this rate of cranking.

John

[Clayton]

I now have oil pressure. But still no fuel to the injectors. I will look at it again tomorrow. Thanks for the help so far.

[Clayton]

Here the photo shows the location of the bleeder screws. The one on the pump has fuel to it and when I pump the primer pump a stream of fuel comes out of it.

[Clayton]

This is a photo of the pump before I rebuilt anything as its too dark now to take a photo. That solenoid seems to work, but who knows.

[cowlitzcoach]

If you have pumped fuel up to the pump and you have fuel coming out of the bleeder on the pump you next step is to loosen the lines at the injector ends.

You most likely have a lot of air between the pump and the injectors. It will take a lot of pumping on the primer pump or cranking on the engine before all of the air is bled out of the system.

If you can get fuel out of two or three lines you might be able to get the engine to fire. Once it is running on a few cylinders you will be able to bleed the air out of the rest of the lines relatively easily.

Just be careful about grinding on the starter. With a fresh rebuild the engine is going to be a bit tight and will cause a lot more drag on the starter than what it had before the rebuild. It will be very easy to burn out the starter.

Making sure the starting batteries are fully charged will help with overheating the starter. There is nothing that will heat a starter up faster than low voltage.

Good luck and keep us posted as to your progress.

[Tango]

Do you know if you have an "in-tank" filter? Not uncommon for them to clog or varnish over and prevent fuel flow.

[Clayton]

It runs.... Runs nice. But there is a fair amount of blow-by, I think that will improve as the rings seat.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Clayton

It runs.... Runs nice. But there is a fair amount of blow-by, I think that will improve as the rings seat.

Woohoo Congrats on getting it going. 1

[BlackJohn]

Well that is great news today.

What happened or changed that it started up and runs today when it wouldn't yesterday?

John