OM603 oil pump check on the bench before installation
 

I crimped the oil chain and about to install the oil pump and button up everything. The oil chain snapped prior to failure so the oil pump may be suspect.

1) Is there anyway to check the oil pump works before installation?
2) Do I need to prime the engine with oil before starting it?
3) Any 'Got you' issues with oil pump/priming?

Any comment is appreciated.

Off the cuff suggestion here, but with the pump removed hold it over some vegitable oil and run a handheld electric drill on the crank.

I can't remembe reading why the Chain failed to know if it was connected with the Oil Pump or not. Or if it was something that could have damaged the Oil Pump.

If you took it apart I don't know if there is any Gasket inside or if that is available if there is one.

Also you would be limited to a visual inspection because I don't believe there wear limit specs in the Manual. But, if the Parts don't show a lot of wear there is no reason why it should not work.

Do I need to prime the pump by pouring oil inside the gears?
 

Do I need to prime the oil pump? I took the pump apart, it is a gear pump and is bone dry without oil. I cannot see how it can 'suck' the sump oil without first priming it, or at least put some oil in there. Post #13 seems to suggest that one needs to fill/prime the OM60x oil pump.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/336943-350sd-603970-engine-no-oil-pressure.html

I think the best you can is remove the Glow plugs and crank the Engine over. That will quickly fill up the Oil Galleries and Oil Filter housing with Oil before you start. Without putting much load on the bearings.
Make sure the Shutoff is activated; no need to squirt raw Fuel into the Cylinder.

Also common practice is to already have used assembly lube on the Bearings when you assembled the other Engine parts.

It would not hurt if you poured some Oil over the Camshaft/Rocker Arms. But, assembly lube could be used instead.

I have never experienced or read of any one packing an Oil Pump with Grease, but I have read of People using Grease as an assembly Lube and it blocked Oil Passages and cause Oil starvation in some Bearing.

If you like you could mix something like 50% Engine Oil and STP and coat the parts in the Oil Pump with that. We used to use that as an assembly lube in Turbo Chargers on the Bearings and journals. It does not block any Oil passages.

What does the Mercedes Service Manual have to say?

This is just thinking off the top of My head but if you poured the Oil into the Oil Filter Housing without the Oil Filter some of that Oil is going to go towards the Oil pump and some is going to draing towards the bearings and if the Oil filter on your Engine has that stem like the 617.952s do some of the Oil will drain back to the Oil Pan through the Hole at the bottom of the Filter Housing where the Stem goes.
What I am saying is dump the whole amount of the Engines Oil in through the Oil Filter; shove the Oil Filer in and as soon as you can to put the Oil Filter Cap on and seal it up Cranke the Engine with the Glow Plugs removed and the IP shutoff activeted.

Thanks Diesel911. I will fill the engine from the oil filter housing.

you can pack the oil pump with vaseline so its pretty primed and will pick up oil as soon as it is turned.

Pouring oil into the filter housing does not seem to work. The best way is undo the oil pump assembly and pack it with vaseline.