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by Rick (Greenwood In. Usa)
Can I bleed the fuel system or is there a pump somewhere?
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Ran out of fuel
You probably need to bleed it at one of the injectors.
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Hand pump
There should be a hand pump that is on the bottom of the housing for the fuel filter.
Otherwise just drown it with starting fluid until the engine starts picking up the fuel on its own. Its not the greatest condition for starting because of the lack of lubrication but it will work. I have done it a zillion times and so far nothings blown up.
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Bleeding your IR 185
Bleeding the JD engine start at the cylinder injector farthest away from the fuel pump.
Back off the injector a couple turns only, now crank over the engine until the diesel fuel flows.
Now tighten the injector. Wait a couple minutes to give the battery a short rest now spray a good shot of Quick start fluid in the breather intake port.
Crank it for up to 8-10 seconds it should start to fire and gradually come up to idle speed. If not repeat the process, bleeding the next injector etc, etc.
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IR 185 with John Deere 4239 diesel engine will turn over but won’t start I get fuel out of the return line on the low-pressure side. I get nothing from the injector pump to the injectors with them disconnected. I put in an inline electric fuel pump and have bled everything up to the injector pump. I checked the valve between the low-pressure and high-pressure in the top of the injector pump (overflow bowl). Nothing is gummed up or stuck. Compressor has been sitting for about 3 years without being started. 3 years ago it started right up and ran.… Read more »
Q: Do I have to have the injectors connected to get pressure?
Not sure, but did/can you bleed them? Could be gummed up injectors.
If you did that already, it wasn’t clear.
Hi, Doug,
Thanks. Nothing looks gummed up and I’ve bled everything. I’ve gotten a few other ideas from guys on other sites. At this point, I’ve ordered a check valve, since the one on the compressor I was able to blow air through it both ways, and it should only be allowing one direction. It’s gonna take a week to get that part. I’ll try to come back and update once I get it.
Is the engine air intake open? Some of these have air cut-off to stop it in volatile environments.
Well, installed the check valve. Still won’t start. Did check the air intake and that wasn’t the problem. Am giving up at this point because it looks like it’s a bigger issue (injector pump) and I’m not inclined to deal with that now.
yeah, I can relate. I suppose you already know that the pump is getting power?
Good luck with it when you get back to it….
I’m having the same problem with the IR 185 compressor (probably 1990s model). It will turn over but won’t start. It has been sitting for about 3 yrs–started fine back then, but not now. I get fuel out of the return line on the low pressure side, but I get nothing from the injector pump to the injectors with them disconnected. I put an inline electric fuel pump in and have bled everything up to the injector pump. I checked the valve between the low-pressure and high-pressure in the top of the injector pump. Nothing gummed up or stuck there.… Read more »