low on power, injection pump worth rebuilding?

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haywood

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My machine is a 977 20 A with the D318
I cracked the lines and number 3 cyl wasn't dropping.
Tested compression on 2 and 3, got 350 PSI, which I was told was low
Pulled off inspection plate and looked for a stuck plunger, didn't see anything, things seem to be moving up and down.
Also tried running threw ultrasonic then swapping out injector nozzles in 2 and 3.
The machine is a dog on power, hard to get a full scoop of dirt, won't hardly go up a hill in 2nd with a scoop of dirt, etc.
Do you think the injection pump is worth rebuilding or where should I go from here? The compression being low has me spooked. Wish it had more black smoke and fuel coming out of the engine under load. It does OK as a first gear small tree pusher but struggles with dirt work and I"m about to give up on it.
Other thing I was wondering will a clogged fuel filter cause the machine to be low on power? The fuel gauge shows pressure is good.
I have a video of the injector pumps going up and down, I'm about to give up, watch think, lost cause?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/pQnBdPmV7Cc6Nn6p6

Machine has a nice winch on it, loose tracks, leaks, but is a ton of fun other than being low on power. I'm really hung on it not having enough grunt to push the crap I wanna push.

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 7:10 AM

Chuck C

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First thing I would do is service the fuel filters, then worry about other things.
Chuck C

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 8:08 AM

haywood

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Reply to Chuck C:

First thing I would do is service the fuel filters, then worry about other things.
Chuck C

[quote="Chuck C"]First thing I would do is service the fuel filters, then worry about other things.
Chuck C[/quote]

Can the fuel filter cause it to be low on power? Only one I know of is in the tower

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 8:24 AM

BobPV15

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Reply to haywood:

[quote="Chuck C"]First thing I would do is service the fuel filters, then worry about other things.
Chuck C[/quote]

Can the fuel filter cause it to be low on power? Only one I know of is in the tower

Yes if it is not getting enough fuel it will be low on power. I really have a hard time believing the 350 compression. If that is true it would be very difficult to start, would need starting fluid to start and to run until it got warm. If it starts without starting fluid your compression reading is BS. So tells us how it starts!!

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 8:54 AM

haywood

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Reply to BobPV15:

Yes if it is not getting enough fuel it will be low on power. I really have a hard time believing the 350 compression. If that is true it would be very difficult to start, would need starting fluid to start and to run until it got warm. If it starts without starting fluid your compression reading is BS. So tells us how it starts!!

No starting fluid, no glow plugs, just have to crank for a bit (blows white smoke while cranking) then fires of, sometimes I have to crank for 20-30 secs I'll pay closer attention to time cranking seems if throttle is about half way it starts easiest

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 9:24 AM

haywood

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Reply to haywood:

No starting fluid, no glow plugs, just have to crank for a bit (blows white smoke while cranking) then fires of, sometimes I have to crank for 20-30 secs I'll pay closer attention to time cranking seems if throttle is about half way it starts easiest

It's there more filters than the big one in tower that need replaced? I've got good flow from tank

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 9:25 AM

Old Magnet

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Reply to haywood:

It's there more filters than the big one in tower that need replaced? I've got good flow from tank

Not unless someone has added an additional filter. There are four sock elements in the filter tower.

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 9:42 AM

BobPV15

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Reply to Old Magnet:

Not unless someone has added an additional filter. There are four sock elements in the filter tower.

Ok, So you have good compression and fuel flow on all but 2 & 3. Take an injector from a good hole and put it in 3 and 3 injector to the good hole. If 3 runs now you have a bad injector, if it does not crack the line to 3 and check for fuel flow with the known good injector. If no fuel flow you have an injector pump problem. Do the same with number 2. If the good hole dies with the other injectors that confirms they are bad.

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 10:03 AM

d2gary

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Reply to Old Magnet:

Not unless someone has added an additional filter. There are four sock elements in the filter tower.

Some of the Cat machines that I ran that would now be considered vintage would actually build up enough sludge in the tank to shut off the fuel supply. Filters were changed monthly but the tanks on all the cats would only be serviced when fuel supply was a problem. Usually a wire probe was used to break up about a quarter inch of stuff and get clean fuel flow. I only saw a couple of machines that had this treatment but you never know

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 10:04 AM

haywood

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Reply to haywood:

No starting fluid, no glow plugs, just have to crank for a bit (blows white smoke while cranking) then fires of, sometimes I have to crank for 20-30 secs I'll pay closer attention to time cranking seems if throttle is about half way it starts easiest

It's there more filters than the big one in tower that need replaced? I've got good flow from tank

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 10:08 AM

haywood

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Reply to haywood:

It's there more filters than the big one in tower that need replaced? I've got good flow from tank

Gonna open up tank tomorrow and see if Napa has a filter I've got good flow from main tank and fuel pressure gauge shows good

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Thu, Sep 12, 2019 10:11 AM

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