Trying to get my '90 350SDL started after taking off the intake, replacing all the fuel delivery valves, doing a compression test and replacing all glowplugs. Trying to bleed the fuel lines/IP is quite a chore. Left all Inj. lines loose at the injectors. After turning the engine alot, slowly, I began to see fuel drip out of the loose lines one by one starting with the rear injector and then the next to last injector .... finally got some seepage at the #1 injector. I tightened every one after it showed some leakage and everything looks good. But I have 2 problems now. My glow indicator light is not coming on. I suspect either a shorted glow line or two or maybe a bad fuse in the relay. Will check it out tomorrow with a meter. 2nd problem is the stop lever. How exactly does this thing work? I searched the archives and am still a little foggy. I guess it is controlled by vacuum. Before I tore the engine apart, my lever was in the up position. I could manually move it down but it would always spring back up. Now, after all this work, it is in the down position and I can move it up, but it wont stay there. Today, while I was cranking the engine to bleed the fuel system, I noticed that it had moved into the up position. However later it had moved itself back into the down position. Whats going on with this thing? I dont understand the cause or meaning of its positions. Can someone explain this to me?

Bert - NH

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1979 300SD 83k miles Astro Silver Metallic/Black leather #3447
1990 350SDL 202k miles (3L engine from an 87 300D)Black/Grey leather
2006 Pleasure-Way Class B MoHo (Sprinter chassis) 134k miles
2005 E320CDI 270k (car is sooo fast - I can't believe it's a diesel!!!)

The stop lever is forced down by the vacuum actuator when you move the key from run to off and there is sufficient vacuum in the system. This is an oversimplification because the actuator would stop the engine even if the stop lever weren't there.

Over time air leaks into the system and the lever returns to vertical. When you turn the key to run the lever should immediately return to vertical. Same with pulling the brown hose off the actuator. If this isn't happening, there might be a problem with the key switch.

Sixto
93 300SD