Technical Assistance needed for non-starting Deuce (76 degreess outside)

[goldneagle]

Except for low batteries I never had problems starting my M109 before. When I got it a few years ago it had a new engine in it. I have upgraded all the filters to spin-ons.

Today I decided to move the truck from where I parked it in the beginning of the Winter season. I had the charger on the batteries a few weeks ago. Batteries were low -so I put the charger back on them. Let them charge up a bit. Tried to start the truck- no luck. Usually it starts right up. Tried several times and nothing! It just spins without any indication of starting. Tried ether and it only kicked on for a split second and spins again. Tried that several times. No luck running on it's own.

Decided to check the filters. replaced the primary fuel filter. Fuel in it looked dirty. Let the on switch stay on and the in-tank fuel pump pushed some good volume of fuel to the secondary fuel filter. Opened the connection tot he IP and lots of fuel came out with in-tank pump on. Opened the fuel line on the other side of the IP (front) and got good fuel volume there. Opened injector line closest to firewall and 3rd 1 from front. No real fuel coming out while cranking.

I did quite a bit of cranking with starting fluid and without trying to get more fuel out of the injector lines. Only got a little seepage.(if any) I checked the kill switch mechanism several times. Working it back and forth. Did the same with the throttle linkage. No luck getting it to start.

I am at a point where I need more expert help in resolving the starting issue. I do not want to open up any parts of the IP without expert advise -so I do not ruin the IP.

 

[Warthog]

You need to pull the cover off the fuel shutoff and make sure the lever moves freely. It may be stuck in the off position.

Gimpy has post many pictures of the lever.

 

[goldneagle]

You need to pull the cover off the fuel shutoff and make sure the lever moves freely. It may be stuck in the off position.

Gimpy has post many pictures of the lever.

Is the cover on the side of the IP where the plunger moves in and out? I know the rod goes in and out of the housing there. i am not sure what it looks like inside. Are there any parts that can fall out when I remove that side cover?

 

[gimpyrobb]

No. Maybe some motor oil, but probably not much.

 

[goldneagle]

No. Maybe some motor oil, but probably not much.

Hey Gimp you got any pictures of that area of the IP? i want to make sure we are talking about the the same cover.

What should I be looking for that might be stuck and not letting the fuel flow?

 

[gimpyrobb]

Hey Gimp you got any pictures of that area of the IP? i want to make sure we are talking about the the same cover.

What should I be looking for that might be stuck and not letting the fuel flow?

I have one in the basement. Let me get some fresh pics, hang on.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Different pics.
The lever under the "bridge"(pic 2) needs to move freely.

 

[goldneagle]

Nice pictures there Gimp. I will check it out tomorrow weather permitting.

So you think the lever is stuck internally and not letting the fuel flow? I was moving the external plunger in and out without any problem.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Yup, that has been many folks issue. You see the outer part "positively" moves the shaft to the off position, but does not positively move it to the "on" position.

 

[goldneagle]

Yup, that has been many folks issue. You see the outer part "positively" moves the shaft to the off position, but does not positively move it to the "on" position.

Thanks. I owe you some beer if you are ever down this neck of the woods.

 

[Warthog]

If you lookup old post from me and gimp, all the parts are explained and how to fix it. The internal parts get gummed up and block the fuel passages of the Hydraulic Head.

 

[goldneagle]

If you lookup old post from me and gimp, all the parts are explained and how to fix it. The internal parts get gummed up and block the fuel passages of the Hydraulic Head.

Can you suggest any search phrases?

 

[Warthog]

Fuel cut-off comes to mind. Bornj has posted many times about this also.
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?110475-Fuel-cutoff-issue

Another thread that comes to mind is "gunk in fuel tank"

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?90982-M35A2-High-Idle-Issue

*** edit ***
Looking over the threads the term is "fuel control rod"

 

[EWhytsell]

Sounds like the problem. I haven't thought about the problem very far, but I've found that if the level is pulled out and I try to start my truck on starting fluid it "will not ignite." I kind of thought it would at least run until the starting fluid clears the intake tubes. What else is going on preventing it, just curious? Lever in "run" position and it operates as I expect.

 

[goldneagle]

Sounds like the problem. I haven't thought about the problem very far, but I've found that if the level is pulled out and I try to start my truck on starting fluid it "will not ignite." I kind of thought it would at least run until the starting fluid clears the intake tubes. What else is going on preventing it, just curious? Lever in "run" position and it operates as I expect.

On my truck it did run shortly on the ether. But I sprayed the ether into the mushroom cap -so by the time I was able to crank there was not much left for the engine to use. From what I could see no diesel was making to the injectors.

 

[gimpyrobb]

GE, spraying and then starting is bad mojo. You got to spray while the motor is turning. I usually open the pass windshield and spray with the motor turning over. Works mo-better, and you don't have to worry about launching a rod.

 

[welldigger]

I'm not a fan of using ether period. Unless it is super cold and metered through an ether start system.

A word of advice to everyone. Try and diagnose the problem before resorting to ether. Especially when it is warm outside.

 

[goldneagle]

Well I went out there and removed the cover as directed. The lever seems to be moving back and forth as it should. Had the Deuce tied into the M931 with Nato Cable to give it more cranking power. Still no Diesel coming out of the injector lines. Plenty of Diesel coming out in front and back of the IP. I cranked it so much that we filled up the air tank so the buzzer does not sound. I did not take apart the bridge and shaft inside the shut off cover. What do you recommend next step?

 

[welldigger]

The next thing I would try is pulling the center bolt on the HH and insert a wooden dowl. Then have someone crank the engine over. This will let you know if the plunger inside the hh is moving up and down.

Or you can pull the hh and verify the button is on the bottom of the plunger and that the plunger rotates and moves up and down freely.

 

[goldneagle]

Is the center bolt the one between all the injector lines?