No, it's not normal. An 855 will start with 0 throttle in most any weather. Heres my best gut feeling from 3000 miles away. You have almost no smoke wuth a PTG pump that is fresly rebuilt. still have low power and hard starting with new filters. The only thing else I can suggest without spending $$ is to fill a bucket with fuel, go directly from the bucket to the fuel pump inlet..yes, no filter, it will be OK for a few starts! Try to find a clear hose to use. Start it, throttle it a few times and then shut it off. let it sit overnight. Check to see if the fuel has bled out of the hose, back into the bucket. If so, the pump seals are junk. If not, meaning the clear line is still filled with diesel gas up to the pump in the AM, start it. If it still takes a long time to lite, I would do some injectors. Like I said, best guess without putting hands on. I have only seen an issue sort of like this 1 other time, on a Crown firetruck. Wouldn't start unless the block heater was plugged in, even at 60 degrees, overnite. Couldn't see the blow-by. The only real way to measure it is loaded, thru a .203 orificed fixture.