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Hi,
I just got a 1983 Gecco 39 with a Volvo Penta MD21B diesel engine. After using the glow plugs for about 30 seconds, I need to crank the engine for about 10 seconds before the engine start. I have the throttle at idle. Is this normal for this type of engine?
Try setting the throttle a little above idle to start and then bring back to idle. I have a different Volvo, but I only need to use the glow plug for 10 to 15 seconds.
You may just be figuring out her sweet spot, so I don't want to over react. You may want to play a bit and assess how she starts and runs. Monitor exhaust smoke.
I threw out injectors, because they do need to be cleaned on a schedule and, when dirty, they do a poor job of atomizing the fuel/air mixture. That causes hard starts, but usually a bit of exhaust smoke from poor burning too.
Did you have the engine surveyed and do you know when all routine maintenance was last done? When I get a new to me engine, I like to start all these things from scratch, unless I'm really confident they've been done recently and correctly: oil, air/oil/fuel/seawater filters, coolant flush, engine oil flush, engine descale, belts, exhaust elbow, valve clearance adjustment, impeller, injectors. Nice to have a baseline compression test too.
Removing and replacing injectors would be on the moderate scale of difficulty. Testing and cleaning them requires a professional diesel shop. They can be sent out, if you don't have one locally. You need to buy new gaskets/washers for all fuel connections you disassemble. Typically the fuel lines need to be removed from both ends, as bending is bad for them. Some setups require a special tool to pull the injector and not the sleeve they sit within. Then you need to bleed air from the fuel lines. Get the workshop manual for your motor and follow the directions. It's a good experience to have, if you're ever going to be too far from a mechanic.
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