Sounds like an air leak on the suction side -- either the hand pump isn't torqued down properly, or there was some dirt under the seal, or the hose from the tank is bad.

A flashing glow plug light means a bad glow plug -- did you manage to pull some wires loose while working on the hand pump?

Peter

__________________
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!