pull starting

[blountsvilledude]

What damage could happen to injector pump if a vehicle is attempted to be pull started without voltage to the fuel shutoff solenoid?  I had a 1985 jetta td running good. I replaced the timing belt and primed the pump with an electric pump. I was going to pull start the car and didnt have voltage to the solenoid when I realized it then even with voltage applied it would crank but would not throttle.

[Dakotakid]

WOW. You are lucky. They usually pull the bolts out of the block and come through the hood and.......just kidding.

There should be no problem as long as you had residual fuel in the pump from when it ran. Apparently, you have already turned the engine over by HAND to ensure you put things back together correctly......yes? (Yes, I realize you have turned it over with the starter by now....but, the question STANDS).

[blountsvilledude]

yes It was all timed up and used a dial indicator then rotated the engine by hand twice. Cracked the injector lines and primed. I wasnt getting as much fuel as before but still managed to get it to start. It would barely run even at wide open throttle.

[vanbcguy]

The pump is still fully lubricated even with the 12V stop solenoid switched off. The shutoff solenoid only blocks fuel to the high pressure chamber.  Since the plunger is fully submerged in diesel and the spill port opens between the high pressure side of the pump and the low pressure side every stroke there's fuel everywhere it needs to be - the feed pump still draws fuel in to the pump case and fuel will be ejected out the return.  Running it 'dry' - ie no fuel whatsoever and nothing hooked up to the inlet - could cause issues, just in case any future searchers come across this.