Help! 1979 300TD won't wake up!

[mcsugarfree]

[I also posted this in the Diesel forum--thanks for reading!]

I put my 1979 300TD to sleep in a shed for a year and now I can't get it to wake up.

I've purged the fuel system (including the injector pump and injector lines)--I'm now running clean fuel directly from a small fuel tank through the aftermarket electric fuel pump to the IP. The fuel is currently 95% diesel and 5% gasoline (a caffeinated mix for a sleep auto!). I ran WVO in this car for several years, but had been running pure diesel for months when I put it to sleep.

I've replaced and tested the glow plugs.

I've removed, cleaned, and replaced the injectors.

I've lubricated the throttle assembly (which had frozen up during the year).

I've opened the air cleaner to bypass the moldy air filter.

There is fuel pressure (high!) at the IP, and fuel flows when I crack the injector lines at the injectors and spin the engine.

The engine _almost_ catches after it cranks for 15 or 20 seconds. Before that, it doesn't even really fire. I keep running down the battery and then having to trickle charge it to go back and try again.

I'm at my wit's end.

HELP!

Thanks!

[mercmad6.3]

Do the valves but add a bit extra clearance ,ie .040 mm for the exhaust and 0.12 intakes.


You are 100 percent sure the glow plugs are working?
In cases like this and i know the glow plugs are all working,I "glow" the engine two or tree times to get the engine temp up. Your piston rings are probably worn and it wil take a little while to get the engine nice and warm so it will fire.
Dont use the aclerator when trying to start,you are just pum[ping rqaw fuel in and this will slow down the combustion process.

[mcsugarfree]

I'm 100% sure the glow plugs are working. I've tried cycling the plugs and I've rechecked fuel delivery at the IP and at the injectors. Still very little firing (and usually only after cranking for a solid 20 seconds). I'll do the valves (it's been a couple years)...This is a compression issue, probably, right?

Is there any possibility that something went funny in the IP while the car was dormant? There seems to be consistent delivery at the injectors when I crack the lines (I initially purged the IP of all the old fuel that had been sitting in it by cranking and cranking with the lines open)...

Thanks.

[mercmad6.3]

Hi it sounds like compression to me, or the lack of it. It's not unusual so perservere . If loosening the valves donesn't cure it (check cam timing while you do the valves by lining the marks) I am thinking that perhaps the IP shut-off is stuck . do you get smoke out the muffler while cranking?