After being recovered from the cotswolds by the RAC I have fitted a new diesel pump to my 12J powered Series 3 but I can't get it to even try and fire (except after a 15 second squirt of easy start into the air pipe, but then anything will fire on neat ether!).

I have followed the good old Haynes manual in fitting the new pump but I didn't have the pump or flywheel locking tools so when I go it all back together and it didn't even try to fire I concluded that I must have the timing out so I ordered a timing tool set.

I have just spent the day stripping it right down again and then refitting it using the timing kit. It did look like I'd got the pump and camshaft one timing belt notch out so I was sure it would start once reassembled...

...it didn't.

When I give it a 15 second squirt of ether into the airintake pipe before warming the plugs and cranking it over, it fires momentarily but then cranks over without even flicking and sound like it's either got knocking big ends or it's hitting valves against pistons. After pausing it will then crank over without these noises but stillno effort to fire.

Please can anyone give me some poiters?

I assume it wasn't making the noise before you changed the pump? So there could be some valve damage but first find why it won't start.
Silly question first, you have put the fuel cut off wire back on the pump, havent you?

Loosen the unions on the injector and crank the engine. You should see fuel spurting out.
Check you have compression of at least 230psi on each cylinder. This could show up any valve damage.

If you've got compression and fuel, then you have to look back at the timing.

The other possible is that the system hasn't primed yet, in which case towing up the road is a good one. But I'd at least do the fuel check first.

15 second squirt? That's insane! anything more than half a second is too much!

When using quick start it should NEVER be sprayed directly into the inlet. It should be sprayed across it whilst the engine is cranked allowing the engine to suck it in and start. Spraying directly into the inlet can result in bent con rods and snapped crankshafts.

wammers said:

When using quick start it should NEVER be sprayed directly into the inlet. It should be sprayed across it whilst the engine is cranked allowing the engine to suck it in and start. Spraying directly into the inlet can result bent con rods and snapped crankshafts.

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Been down that road

wammers said:

When using quick start it should NEVER be sprayed directly into the inlet. It should be sprayed across it whilst the engine is cranked allowing the engine to suck it in and start. Spraying directly into the inlet can result bent con rods and snapped crankshafts.

Click to expand...

Oops, you might have identified the problem. Does spraying it just make too big a bang?

Ooops...

...I think I might have got away with that as turning the crank at the pulley end still turns the flywheel and all the valves open and close in the right order (by the same amount). Phew.

Got my doubts about the glow plugs, shouldn't they be hot to the touch after three or four goes heating for 30 secs and cranking for 10?

Take the plugs out and check them.