chances are, if you didnt set the timing with a gauge its way off

 

Not true. You can set it based off stock pump timing by using basic math and a marker.

(Assuming you know what your pump is pinned at)

 

we started from stock timing with the pump pinned and it was running like **** to we bumped the engine backing some but im not positive what the timing is at

 

with the pump on tdc is not stock timing

 

#1 has to be at TDC, with the pin showing, and that is stock timing (or whatever the pump was pinned at). Should be marked on the side of the pump.

 

I think I just found your problem. The fuel shut off soleniod opens fully during cranking and then backs off just a little bit when you stop cranking and the engine is running. If you are running a cable set up instead of a electric soleniod you could be leaving it at full open during running condition. try shutting the shut off just a little bit, I mean just a little bit, and see if that helps. also check for full travel of the lever and your cable. not enough pull on the shut off lever can cause the same symtoms

 

hmm i did not know this but i will give it a try.thanks for the info. it seems like my problems with it dying and being hard to start arised after i installed my cable

 

I had a ishue with an engine that would run the same way yours is doing, and it turned out that it was 180% out of time the pump that is, it will run still but it will be hard starting and smoke! the crankshaft turns twice to one turn of the cam It could be a half a stroke out ! the fuel has to be delivered on the compression stroke! The fix was to lock the pump and losen the nut and take puller and brake the gear lose then turn the crankshaft one turn back to tdc and lock it down while the marks line up that fixed the one I was doing

 

i re did the timing on it and the truck would still losing prime and wouldnt start so i bought a airdog and fixed that problem. truck runs good now. not sure on the shut down cable deal tried it bunch of different ways never really changed anything