Need advice on priming 7.3 IDI

[gemniii]

I changed the fuel filter in my '88 7.3L IDI E350 VAN. Getting the old filter off took a while due to limited room and big hands, and getting the water drain off required me taking it inside to put in a vise. The replacement filter was also a pain to put on the end result was that I "lost" prime on the fuel line big time. I know the fuel pump is working because when I was putting the filter back on the first time I didn't get it tight enough and it squirted diesel all over.

I'm trying to reprime it with 20 seconds of cranking with several minutes of cool down as I've read so I don't burn out my starter. I've "cracked" an injector line.

I've read discussions saying it will take lot's of cranks and read one post saying it might take recharging the batteries a couple of times.

I also just replaced the batteries.

Questions - Should I crack more injector lines?
Realistically how many times should I expect to due 20 seconds of cranking before suspecting injector pump failure?
Does pressing the Schrader valve on the filter housing help?
Any other suggestions ?

Thanks

[csdwarf11]

Ive cracked multiple injectors, have a buddy stand up front, crank it till fuel starts to come out, have you buddy tighten them up while you are cranking it when fuel comes out, it should then fire on the cylinder, might take a few.

be careful though, because im not sure what the pressure of the fuel is at the line, if its high pressure I think that stuff can get in your skin.

but, also the truck I have practiced this on had an electric fuel pump, so cranking it wasn't as necessary, and i might have also had more pump power.

[gemniii]

Success!!

Just kept on going out and loosening a few injectors, cranking for 20 seconds, tightening the injectors. Go inside, come out 10 or more minutes later repeat. SWMBO had started muttering that doing the same thing over and over with the same result, was a sign of being crazy.

Finally after cranking about 40 times I got fuel leak around one injector. Another 5 cycles and I got it around two, another 5 cycles and it's 4. Then it fired once, one cylinder.

A few more cycles and I took a spray bottle (old Fabreze bottle [the deodarant for men]) of diesel and gave it two misty squirts in the wire mesh. Cranked and it fired up ROUGH. Let it run for a while.
Time will tell but I'm hoping it's road ready.

[csdwarf11]

awesome! glad you got her going!

[FordGuy100]

The best way.

Fill up the fuel filter to the brim with diesel, and re-instal. Loosen all 8 injector lines. Crank for 10-15 seconds, then wait for 2 minutes. Do this twice (so 2 cranking sessions). Go look under the hood. If there is fuel around the injector, tighten that injector line down, if there is no fuel, dont tighten. Crank another time, and then check under the hood.

With the filter full, it shouldnt take more than 3 of those crankings to get fuel to the injectors. Also, once you get about 5 lines tightened down, it will actually run....will sound like it has a huge cam in it Then just run over and tighten down the rest as it idles.

[Texas6.0]

I don't know what is up with my IDI but I have run out of fuel on more than one occasion and it doesnt get air in the fuel system. I just switch to the other tank and pedal it while cranking it(a little longer than usual).

[gemniii]

Originally Posted by FordGuy100

Loosen all 8 injector lines.

It's a van, almost impossible to get to the front fuel lines, especially without taking off the fuel filter.

[Maverick1701]

when I changed my filter, I didn't have to crack the lines...I primed the new filter with diesekleen and she cranked right up and ran w/out any issues.