How long did you tow it with the engine turning over? You'll need to tow it with the engine turning over for a while. It's not clear to me what you mean by 'tried 3 times'. You need to get up to speed, put it in S, start the engine turning over and keep towing it with the engine turning over. Make sure the glow plugs are warm when you put it into gear.
Check to make sure the transmission fluid is at the correct level. Did you put it in D or S?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Guess I owe you 20 bucks..
Try it again, spin that baby up.

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'79 300D, Ivory "Gunther" ......going
'81 300SD, Metallic Blue Silver, The Grey Ghost.....going
'87 300D Turbo ...gone
'05 CDI.... gone

take out the glow plugs, crank the engine. If your injectors and fuel deliery system is working properly, you will start seeing puffs of unburned fuel coming out the injector holes. Removing the injectors does 2 things: you can see if your Fuel system is delivering fuel and reduces wear and tear on the starter as it is not cranking against compression. This is a no fail system for me and ALL my diesels...

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71 220D 169K wrecked
83 240D 118K sweet 4 speed
91 350SDL (one of the 60% good engines) 156K
84 300d (loaner to my sister) 189K
79 300SD (partswagen)
86 420SEL partswagen
70 220d (partswagen)
68 280s GASSER!!! under construction now
85 300sd 310K miles winter beater car retired
93 300d 2.5 turbo 168K wife's car
83 280SL euro 5 speed 155K
69 250S newest project 54K

When I had my neighbor start towing me, I had the key in the glow plug position and the car in neutral. After being towed for a minute or 2 I dropped the car into S. Thats when I said the 1rst time it seemed like the car might start, but then my neighbor slowed down his car and then my car stopped doing anything. After that 1rst run we tried again, I did the exact same thing but this time got no response from my car. 3rd time same thing.

I am in So Cal so admittedly it is difficult to find a stretch of road to do this on well. It seemed like he had towed me long enough but I don't know.

Glows could have cooled off in that time period. Time the turning on of the glowplugs so they are hot when you put it in gear. It's possible that you were not being pulled fast enough.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Well everyone, I was feeling completely over it, but I convinced my neighbor to take me out for a pull start one more time before I had it towed to the shop in the morning...and SHE STARTED!!!

I can not thank you all enough esp. Astroman, Kerry Edwards, and Chasinthesun, your advice was invaluable!!! I couldn't have done it without your help!

Thanks a million!!!!!!

Rock on! It took me a few hours after bleeding the injector lines to start my 300sd after a simple filter change. However, this is only half the battle. Did it shut off alright (seriously)?

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1983 300SD
Rusty, Loud and Proud

Haha! Funny you mention it, because I did have to turn the car off with the Stop lever. But I figure this is just a vacuum issue (had the same problem with another 300d) so I figure today I would test the vacuum lines and figure out if I have a leak somewhere or if its the pump...

I was just soooo relieved to get it started that I didn't worry too much about this part (yet)

If you end up replacing anything to do with the shut off solenoid/lever on the IP, look for the thread(s) about runaway 617's and how to avoid them.

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1983 300SD
Rusty, Loud and Proud

glad you finally got it running... now does it start with the key?

The lift pump needs to be before the main filter. That could be causing some problems.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Got it started with the key once, but it won't start again. Did a second tow start yesterday and took her for a long drive. She drove great. I had replaced a couple of the vaccuum tubes and she turned right off. But she won't start again with the key....I'm thinking that the starter needs to be replaced maybe? I have heard that on the older 123's that the starters didn't have great power...I was thinking about replacing it with a used starter from a '82-'85 turbo diesel model instead. What do you all think?

Post a video of you trying to start it on YouTube and then link it here. You'll get some good opinions once people can see what's going on as you try to start it.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

i would get a new starter for your model engine... im not a fan of replacing parts with ones for other models

I believe it is a well accepted fact that the starter from the turbo models spins the engine faster and will fit both the 617NA and the 616. I put one on my 77 617NA to spin it faster on winter starts.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13