WD9 injection pump timing adjustment

[3LFarms]

Fired the engine I overhauled last winter for the first time today.
It started fine, but I don t think the injection pump is timed quite right. It smokes a bit whitish at slow idle, and seems like it s struggling a bit at slow idle like it wants to die. It also pings or knocks when I first switch it over to diesel.
All the manuals say about adjusting the pump is to adjust it until it runs best without smoking. At full throttle, it seems to run OK and gives a little black smoke as it gains RPM.
Pump and injectors were overhauled by Area Diesel Service. Pump adjustment pointer is currently set to 0 like the manual says to when installing the pump.

I was hoping someone would have some advice on which way to go versus me just trying repeatedly.
I also think I need to open the venturi on the carburetor cause it seems like it runs too slow on gas. I rebuilt the carb with a kit from McDonald carb, but since they used the same carb on all the diesels, and this one is now 350ci, vs the 248ci in an MD, seems like it just needs a bit more.
I ordered a non contact tachometer, but it s not here yet. I will wait till I get it to set idle and max RPMs.

 

[pete 23]

You have to play with the injection pump timing, moving it a half mark or full mark at a time. If
it smokes white smoke you will have to advance the timing if the timing is the problem. Trial and
error.

On the carburetor, all you can do is put a small washer under the disc that controls air input and
that again is trial and error. Sometimes it works and sometimes it makes it worse or doesn't
change it.

The industrial version of those engines could be fitted with a different carburetor that actually
has a venture and you could control the speed somewhat I understand but I just read about them and
never saw one. Just service bulletins.

 

[rustred]

yes as pete says. its only the front cover to take off to set timing not a big deal. original engine for the wd9 was 335 cid. if you have 4
1/2 inch sleeves then its the 350 cid as the supers used. they do not run fast on gas anyhow. they speed up some once they warm up. think
its 1/8 inch on the air valve clearance. dont matter how fast it runs slow is good, you are just warming the coolant and cylinders for the
diesel to fire. just from my experience i would say they run around 600 cold them might speed up to 800 rpm.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Our MD will smoke white like that in cold weather and not so much in warm weather. It will also smoke slightly upon acceleration like when opemed up from idle. does not smoke under load which I always said it should have had the fuel increased slightly when the bigger sleeves and pistons were put in. Dad disagreed so it didn't get done. The MD 3 7/8 sleeves were not available where he got the set at the time so the 4 inch ones were put in.