First of all, I'm by now way an authority on diesel engines. However I have
about half dozen that I deal with, both on the boat and on land.

I wouldn't consider penetrating oil as a lubricant. If anything it will wash
off any oil that may already be on the cylinder walls. In the end, you
would have increased ring friction and reduced compression. Light
lubricating oil would have been better if the engine was able to be turned
over at all.

The amount of fuel you will see coming from the distribution ports on the
injection pump will be a metered amount, depending on the throttle
setting/governor. This metered amount will normally only be a droplet at the
top of each compression stroke. If you hook one of the injectors fuel lines
to both the pump and injector, bleed the air from the injector connection,
you should then see a very fine mist come from the injector nozzle. I often
do this with the injector pointing up and away from their cylinder head
locations. Don't put your hand or fingers in front of the nozzle because the
fuel comes out with enough force to penetrate the skin and raise a nasty
blister.

It helps to hold a piece of paper in front of the injector to see the mark
made by the fuel. It also helps to hold the paper behind the nozzle so you
can see the type or spray pattern. It should be conical and not just a
stream.

If you don't see a spray pattern at all and the fuel just drips out of the
nozzle opening, then you have an injector with a pintle that isn't seating
and it must go to the repair shop for service and adjustment. (this is
beyond the skill and equipment that a DIY boat mechanic has available.)

I suspect that you have sufficient fuel from the pump but you now have air
in the lines and injectors. Diesels just don't like any air in their lines
because it doesn't allow the fuel to be delivered to the injector in
sufficient pressure to lift the spring loaded pintle and inject the fuel.

With a properly operating diesel you can crank the engine by hand and hear
the a "creaking" or "click" sound as the fuel is squeezed into the injector
and builds up pressure.


--
My experience and opinion, FWIW
--
Steve
s/v Good Intentions


"wblakesx" wrote in message
oups.com...
A friend bought a boat that had a diesel set in the boat, but not
hooked up. The motor was very stiff so I pulled the injectors, put in
penetrating oil, turned her by hand the next day, then on the starter
and she loosened up alot; but little fuel came out of the
inj pump. I tried again with the two levers on the side of the inj pump
in various positions but still only a very minimal amount of fuel. Am I
missing something?


Further I guess I should have some concern about cylinder surfaces. I
plan to run her abit, and if she doesn't overheat, do a leakdown test.
Any comments?