SA250 no start

[andex]

1985 SA250 D3.152 perkins.
Today I finally got a chance to give my new, old SA250 a run through. I installed a new battery checked the oil turned on the fuel valve and pushed the start button. It spun a few revolutions and fired rite up. Great !
I plugged a grinder into the 110 outlet and pulled the triger and the solenoid pulled it in to hi idle. Great !!
Plugged in the leads struck an arc and it had a momentary sputter like the solenoid pulled in, stumbled a bit, the rpm's dropped and shut off. Not good. ??
Pushed the start button, nothing. ??
Flipped the Auto / Hi idle switch back and forth, pushed the start button. Starter spins the motor. No start. ??
Fuel is returning to the tank when turning over. No start. ??
Superbowl is coming on, pack it up for the day.
Online operators manual refers to a engine protection package. If it has it does it require a manual reset? If so where is the reset located.
Simple basic Diesel engine, It spins round and round and appears to have fuel. Should run but it does not.
Help...

[lincweld]

clogged fuel filter ?

[welder90]

Any chance that it got air in the fuel system? My 1980 sa250 is picky! On mine it doesn't pull fuel from the bottom of the tank, it has a tube and pulls about 1.5inches up from the bottom..mine wouldn't even hit until I bled the lines..just my thoughts..

[andex]

welder90
I think you got it.
I did not know that there was a riser tube in the tank. I took a peek when I got home from work this eavening and the fuel level is just at the top of the tube. Same setup on my ag tractor. It is a good / bad setup. The good, It does keep big things and water out of the line. The bad all that crud builds up on the bottom of the tank and colledcs the water to rot the tank from the inside out.
When I had it runnning on Sunday it was sitting on somewhat uneven manner on a few pieces of wood. The vibration of that 3 cylinder did have it rocking back and forth a bit so I wouldnt doudt that it has sucked some air into the lines. At rest it would pull fuel and return it to the tank.
I found an old perkins 3.152 manual from and long gone 250 at work with correct way to purge the system.
I will add 5 gal of fuel and purge the lines tomorrow.
Thanks

[andex]

Its Alive.
Drained the fuel tank pulled the outlet / sediment bowl. Looks like someone had added the riser tube. I removed the tube cleaned the tank. removed and cleaned out the fuel filter. Then I realized I was showing my age. I actually read and followed the step by step directions in the manual for purging air out of the system. Darn if it didnt fire rite up and vibrate like a 3 cyl.
Finally got to burn asome 6010. Ran it thru 5 gears and up and down with the rheostat. It does seem to run a bit hotter than the 200's. 10 -15% less on the rheostat in the same gear. Now it's #9 in the line. That 57 should have been #10.

[TozziWelding]

LOL, I was hoping you would get fed up and sell it cheap.......