id guess air leak on line.. yea it will suck from a can.. but not from the tank.. id check over all you connections... else the internal pump failed and now requires a pump to push fuel to it..
since pump was OFF all your connections need double checked along with the timming plug as it will suck air too.. if you set pump timming...
Internal pump pressure set to zero for what reason? Tap that sucker down about a 1/4 inch or better yet get a gauge on it and set it for 40 lbs at idle. No where have I read or heard do you need to do that. So stop doing it. Then try it.