Well, I believe you guys are right. I checked the shut off valve with my Mityvac and it will not hold a vac; in fact it will not even build up a vacuum. Just to be sure I also pulled off the 3 inch rubber hose which connects she shutoff valve to the tiny brown with blue stipe line and the 3 inch rubber hose held vac fine. So the shut off valve must have lost its seal.

Also found out that DieselGiant must be wrong. First the paint can top does not come close to fitting the air intake on the breather when you pull off the blacked ridged say 5" diameter hose. The spray can top is way too small. So I got a large plastic top from an old coffee can, started the diesel, and completely blocked off the air with the coffee can lid. No effect. Engine ran fine; did not even cough. So much for this tactic if I get a run away engine.

Gave me a chance to use the stop lever and it worked fine. Tried it three times and it worked fine each time.

So guess is time to buy a stop valve.

Bill Grissom - do you still have one? You can email me at tyl604@aol.com.