Has to be the liquid dampened one. 0-30 lbs chinese from harbour freight is good. Better take off or test point is betwen secondary filter and injection pump. Non dampened mechanical gauge is hopeless.

Thread looks old but did you ever locate the problem? Reading over the post...I seen you said when you prime the pump....you get air bubbles...did you ever upgrade to the new style primer or is it still the twist n turn one?

__________________

I had a similar issue with my 1985 300D. I had been adjusting the ALDA and a couple weeks later i lost all my power in the bottom end one morning, had to floor it and hold it for a while until RPM's built up for the boost. It wound up being a bad ALDA, so i replaced it with another used unit and all was normal again.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

I was betting Alda. It's always Alda for me. ( 3 times and counting)

__________________
What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius