Check cranking speed -- must be at least 100 rpm. If not, get a new or properly rebuilt starter (nust have a new armature). Never gonna start otherwise.

In an emergency, there are two way to help out -- either a BIG hairdryer or a LIT propane torch pointed down the air intake to greatly pre-heat the air while cranking. This gets the combustion chamber hot enough to get the fuel to burn.

Or you can wire up the starter for 24 volts -- don't connect the last connection until someone has the key in the start position, then only maintain contact until the engine starts. It's gonna crank like crazy, but more than 30 sec will probably also burn up the starter.

GP can be run for two minutes before attempting to start. I'd also crank with the glowplugs out and the injector lines loose AFTER using the hand pump to completely prime the IP (no air bubbles in the return line from the side of the IP). Crank until no more air comes out, only fuel, then tighten cap nuts and install glow plugs.

It won't start unless you have hot combustion air, fuel injected at the correct time (start of injection by drip tube 24 degrees BTDC), and sufficient cranking speed.

To set injection timing, you need a drip tube from MB or the equivalent -- u-shaped tube installed in #1 pressure valve, with the actual valve removed inside the holder. While supplying pressure to the IP with the hand pump, crank engine around toward the firing stroke on #1. Fuel should run out of the tube through the pump until you reach 24 BTDC, at which point the flow should almost stop. Set excactly, this is one drop per second, falling to nothing as the engine is rotate further. You must then install the pressure valve under the spring in the holder before attempting to start engine.

Edit: You must wire the fuel control rod from the accelerator pedal to the full open position, or the timing will be wrong.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!