This truck is an old bucket truck therefore it idles a bunch. So, a rat or squirrel built a next on top of the engine and chewed through several wires and a couple of vacuum hoses. I cleaned out the nest, started the engine and it drove fine.

Yesterday I was using it and turned it off for a while, came back and started it. It ran for a few seconds and quit. It won't restart. It acts like its not getting fuel. I posted a couple pics for reference and will post more later. Obviously I may have an essential wiring cable chewed through, so any help picking out the most important suspect would be great.

Now for a potentially dumb question, do these fuel systems have a water separator thingy in line that I might check? If so, where would it be located.

Any help in pursuing this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance...

 

Update. I watched some Youtube fuel system videos about this type engine. I located the fuel filter and inspected the element. It seems clean and fairly new. I didn't see any visible water in the chamber. (I just purchased the truck a few months ago and haven't done any of this type service) I then left the bleed valve open and attempted to start the truck to see if any fuel would come out. Lo and behold it started up and idled roughly as if it was flooded. I let it idle for a few minutes and then shut the bleed valve and it promptly died and wouldn't restart. I will let it sit for a while and reopen the valve and see if I can get it to start again.

Thoughts?