Mk3 Di starts then dies

[Parcel]

Well went to get van out and it’s busted.
Hasn’t been started for weeks at first it would run for short time then stop
Then it wouldn’t even try to fire
Then I found that my botch on the fuel line had given up and it was trying to run on air
Fixed that primed it with the hand pump until there was some pressure and you could hear some over fill trickling back to the tank and tried again.
Starts then dies
Loosened injector pipes
Cranked over 5 seconds rest 10 seconds crank 5 seconds and repeat for a minute
Did this twice
Big puddles of diesel
Tried again
Starts then dies but now and again would run for longer with full accelerator
It’s an ‘87 without the lift pump
Injection pump was reconditioned a few months ago and has been working fine up until now
Fuel filter has only been on a short while
No bubbles in the fuel lines (I fitted clear ones a long time ago)
Fuel comes out of return banjo on top of pump if you loosen it while hand priming
No unusual knocking when it will decide to run
Pumping the primer when starting doesn’t improve anything.

Anybody got any ideas?

[Chug]

They can be a pig to bleed without the lift pump, but as it runs for a few seconds you could try ether or wd40 to see if it will keep running longer and encourage it to clear the air, but otherwise if you can get a diesel feed direct from a container to the injection pump inlet and first bleed from the nipple on the side of the injection pump, then loosen the injector unions and bleed from there.

If you have an electric fuel pump its easy, I use one and hook it up from a gerry can to the injection pump inlet, BUT also pipe the return to the same container or it will empty your container rapido.

HTH
Chug

[Parcel]

Thanks Chug
I originally had an electric lift pump fitted but the last person to do welding cut all the wiring out.
I shall reinstate at the weekend and see if it helps
Maybe recheck all the lines and replace any doubtful ones
I’ll let you know how we get on
Thanks for taking an interest