MF 175 diesel won't start

A friend has a Massey 175 diesel that has sat for quite awhile. He put new filters on it and replaced the fuel but it still won't start. He's been a mechanic for several years but like me he's in his 70s and can't remember some of the things he used to do. It will start on starting fluid as long as it's being sprayed. He's bled the injector lines a;so. I have not had a chance to go look at it but I pretty much figure it's the injector pump that needs to take a trip to Dieseltech's. Anybody got any suggestions, we've been talking about him trading it to me for my Massey 65 gasser.

I cant help but I knew a guy that only changed the filters once,after having someone come out to get it running he just took it to town once a year to have them done. 165D

Did he possibly get the filter o-ring installed wrong - in the top of the filter instead of in the groove in the filter housing. Common mistake.

How long since engine last ran? Injection pump MAY have stuck internal parts from setting with old stale fuel. Water in fuel and/or bio diesel will cause the same trouble. Also make sure the fuel filter top outer groove DOES NOT have an O ring in it if filters are NAPA/WIX brand.

I have bled my uncles 175 many times. Problem is that the lift pump is on the right side of the engine and the injector pump is on the left side so it makes it difficult to see if the diesel has bubbles in it but if he has the fuel lines cracked loose on 2 injectors and diesel squirting out when cranking it should be bound to start at full throttle I should think.

They can be difficult to bleed and changing the filters assures you are starting from scratch. The little hand pump doesnt provide a lot of volume. Start back at the filters and make sure you get a good bubble free stream. My 65 needs the actual injector line cracked after you get fuel at the pump. .

On my mf 250 the bleeding procedure is a multistep process. Might be same on yours. Bleed filter housing first. Then injection pump. Last open injector lines.

Yep, I still remember when a neighbor did the o ring wrong on my 165 and I brought the injector pump to you. The pump was leaking and needed some work on it anyway. I figure the pump is stuck, he said the old fuel was pretty bad. I have not had a chance to go look at it but I think that's the problem & if it is, you know where it's going.

As shown the 3166 filter has whipped more than one mechanic due to the sealing ring being put into the filter grove instead of the filter housing. On a 175 the tank is above the lift (primer) pump and filters so you should have a free flow of fuel to the filter housings when the tank shut off is open, if not try pumping the primer handle on the lift pump you may have to turn the engine a little to get the pump lever to work. If you can't get a good flow of fuel some of the lift pumps had a strainer under the cap held on by a small screw or bolt in the center of it which could be stopped up or the supply line back to the tank is stopped up. Once you get fuel to the filters open the lower bleeder screw on the injection pump continue to pump the primer handle until an air free flow of fuel is coming out. Close that crew and open the upper screw on the head of the injection pump and repeat the bleeding process. Once you have bleed the injector pump move up to the injectors and loosen at least 2, all if possible all 4 of the injector lines about 3/4 of a turn using a 5/8 open wrench. Open the throttle wide open make the sure the shut off cable is in the on position, turn the engine over with the starter after several revelations fuel should start leaking at one or more of the loosened line nuts. If you can't get fuel to the injectors the injection pump shut off is stuck in the off position requiring the pump to be serviced. If fuel start leaking at the injector line nuts, stop turning the engine retighten the ones that are leaking, turn the engine again a few more turns until fuel start leaking from either of the two remaining, stop turning the engine and tighten the remaining lines it should start on your next try. ( NOTE; BE CAREFUL ) as it may start on 2 cylinders if it does shut it OFF ( DO NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FUEL COMING FROM THE INJECTOR LINES WHILE RUNNING THE ENGINE AS IT IS UNDER HIGH PRESSURE, 2500 PSI EVEN THOUGH THERE WILL BE ONLY A SMALL VOLUME SPRAYING OUT) and retighten the remaining lines. AGAIN BE CAREFUL WHEN WORKING ON THE HIGH PRESSURE LINES GOING TO THE INJECTORS.