Newbie with 1985 BJ 73 no start

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E

Erich M

10 Year
Joined
Jul 17, 2015
Threads
3
Messages
12
Location
Missouri
Howdy guys. I am a complete novice with diesel engines and with my 1985 BJ 73. Hopefully I am posting this in the correct section. If not, let me know. And thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Anyways, it has the 3B engine in it, and a few weeks ago it starting pouring coolant out of the tailpipe and blowing engine oil over the front side of the block. I self diagnosed a blown head gasket, and a cracked head. Replaced both those things (head gasket and cylinder head unit) and got the whole thing put back together. It cranks over fine, but it will not start.

The first big problem is that I cannot build up fuel pressure. I have pumped and pumped on the primer to no avail. So I am assuming some interior seal has gone out and the primer pump needs replacement. On my vehicle it is a combo unit with the primer pump sitting on top of the fuel filter itself. On several other threads I have read about replacing the primer pump because it is junk, but that part looks nothing like what I have. Is there some modification I need to do to, or is there a vehicle specific primer pump I need to buy?

Second big problem: I was desperate to hear the engine run (to double check that fuel delivery was my only issue) that I tried spraying some diesel into the intake manifold and cranking the engine. It still wouldn't run at all. It didn't even try to catch. So I switched to spraying WD-40 into the intake because I thought I wasn't getting enough atomization of the diesel for it to combust properly. Still nothing. So I am starting to worry that I missed something when I re-assembled the engine. Is there anything like a kill switch or a hidden reset button I have to push?

I appreciate you guys reading all this, sorry for the long post. I hope to get it back in running condition soon!
 
The problem is you need to find the primer pump that is on the side off the injection pump and start from there. There should be a bleed screw on the fuel filter that needs to be loosened so after you start pumping you should get a good steady flow with no air bubbles wind the screw back in and nip it up. Now you can start using the pump on the filter to fill the injection lines now try and crank your engine after a few hits with the glow system.

Question how much fuel and WD 40 did you poor into the engine as this could cause a cylinder to lock and bend a rod. Might be best to pull your glow plugs and turn engine over a few times to clear the unbent fuel.
 
ozcrusier,

I can only locate one primer pump, the one of the inner fender, which is a one piece unit with the fuel filter. Is there supposed to be another one somewhere? Can you possibly post a picture of it?

As for the fluid. I put the diesel in a spray bottle and squirted maybe 10 times before calling it quits. I waited a few days and then sprayed in the WD-40. I did no more than a 10 second spray total. But its not a bad idea to try and clear some of the fluid from the cylinders, so I will remove the glow plugs and and roll it over a few times.

Thanks for the ideas, ready and willing to hear more.
 
Crack the bleed nipple yellow then unscrew the top of the white plunger in the red circle and then start pumping keep pumping until diesel starts coming from the bleed nipple with no air in a solid stream then nip up that screw when the plunger is fully down ready to screw back into it's thread. The blue is the edit motor and rod that connects to the ball on the injection pump
that has three positions Stop, Run, Rich start.

fuel pump.webp
 
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My system looks nothing like yours. I have the injection pump here
KIMG0116.webp
And I have the fuel filter / primer pump on the opposite side of the engine bay on the right inner fender here. Black button is the pump handle. Doesn't compress very far.
KIMG0117.webp

Sorry for the large photos.

I have looked and looked for a bleed screw on the fuel system but haven't found one. Its very possible I am blind and just missing something obvious. I suppose it is equally possible that this set-up is not original.

Can you advise me further using my photos? (and thanks for giving such detailed photos of your own. Wish they had helped me.)
 
What engine have you got in the bj73 it doesn't look like a 3b. Best post this questing in the diesel section.
 
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