Thanks all, I've tried to grip, turn and pull down to remove the drain plug , it only seems to spin, this is the black plastic, it seems to move about 1 screw thread , Im wondering if the other end of the rusted thread thats visible with the nut is actually a bolt or something and the head of the bolt is on the other side of the lid. even grabbing the thread which is visible, there is sufficient to grab hold of , all it does is spin , the black plastic also moves; ill give the rotary tool a go in the morning and update .Alterbatively have a go at removing the the drain screw on the car with mole grips?
If that works no rotary tool work will be required. That is providing the drain screw cap is removed safely. The rusted nut is spinning and that's grand as it is of no use but the outer lip of the drain screw you could perhaps get mole grips on it to unwind it?
Depending on the depth of the plastic nut under the drain screw cap do pre-check the mole grips are not going to damage it too severely.
If the mole grips are causing damage then it's back to the rotary tool and a steady hand.
View attachment 120821
EDIT
Image credit @audifan
Edit
The way my logic works is possibly a bit different?
I don't want to damage the end cap. (that has not been suggested at all)
I don't mind damaging the drain screw and the outer lip of the drain screw.
The bolt is spinning so that's no use.
To begin I choose the least risky and destructive method to remove the drain screw.
And would incrementally increase the destructive nature to remove the end cap (undamaged) and totally bypass the removal of the drain screw while it's still on the vehicle.
All the best of luck.
Disconnect fuel return line on left hand side when facing engine. The lower of two metal fuel pipes going across the front of engine is the return. Plug the rubber pipe to the tank with a bolt if necessary. Attach vacuum kit to metal pipe and suck fuel/air through injectors/tandem pump. When flow slows/stops, start cranking while keeping vacuum applied ie keep renewing vacuum by continuous pumping. Diesel might need emptying from pot. If/when it starts be ready to switch off before pot overfills. Easier with 2 people.Also have got a kit @TAABVW to bleed but not sure where I should be attaching the kit to the fuel system and potentially letting in further air ? Would appreciate any pointers . I presume its the feed to the pump? Do I need to clamp the lines either side and then remove the hose between the metal pipe and pump?
So have I been doing it wrong?Disconnect fuel return line on left hand side when facing engine. The lower of two metal fuel pipes going across the front of engine is the return. Plug the rubber pipe to the tank with a bolt if necessary. Attach vacuum kit to metal pipe and suck fuel/air through injectors/tandem pump. When flow slows/stops, start cranking while keeping vacuum applied ie keep renewing vacuum by continuous pumping. Diesel might need emptying from pot. If/when it starts be ready to switch off before pot overfills. Easier with 2 people.
Assuming you are trying to get it to start, that's how I would do it. If the fuel lines are completely empty then be careful not to over stress the starter. For this reason, there may be some merit in trying to fill the fuel lines but I've never had to.So have I been doing it wrong?
I was advised to pull fuel up from the tank with my rubber hand pump into the tandem pump, or have I misunderstood your reply TAABVW ?
If im reading and understanding this correctly both methods are doing the same but at different places @johnyfartbox is doing this process prior to tandem so ensuring pipe from filter to tandem and as you have suggested post the pump/ injectors so filter to post tandem/injectors . the latter additionally ensures the tandem and injectors are cleared too. Is this correct?Assuming you are trying to get it to start, that's how I would do it. If the fuel lines are completely empty then be careful not to over stress the starter. For this reason, there may be some merit in trying to fill the fuel lines but I've never had to.
Hoping for good weather here tomorrow so I may try this. Just wondering if its worth doing this before taking a dremmel to the filter housing and getting a new filter in. I know I need to change the fuel filter.Yes that's correct. If you fill the pipes before the tandem pump that is all very well, but it will still not start as the injectors are full of air. You need to bleed the injectors as I described regardless, so I prefer to do the one job.
First break in the weather . I presume the leftmost so lower line needs to be disconnected . Do I need a special hose pliers to undo the clamp. Given where the fingers are on the clamp my hose removal.tool doesnt .have space between the other line . Can a normal set of pliers be used on these and are they single use or can they be reused ?You might learn something in terms of making diagnostic progress if you try this first. The clear pipe will show if you are getting fuel to the engine. If it starts you could connect clear pipe to the return fuel line and watch for bubble/froth as it ticks over. This would indicate that air is being continually bled out of the fuel and show the fuel feed line isn't sealed.
Lots of bubbles seems to be continuing ... Does this process take sometime and I need to keep going ... or does this imply I have an air leak somewhere ?First break in the weather . I presume the leftmost so lower line needs to be disconnected . Do I need a special hose pliers to undo the clamp. Given where the fingers are on the clamp my hose removal.tool doesnt .have space between the other line . Can a normal set of pliers be used on these and are they single use or can they be reused ?
Difficult to be sure at this stage. Keep sucking on it and crank it (easier with two people). Be prepared for it to start. If it starts that little tub will fill up with frothy fuel very quickly so don't get all excited at it starting, keep an eye on the tub so you switch it off before you get diesel in the vacuum pump workings. If it sounds like it's going to start and the tub is already quite full, it is prudent to stop and empty the tub into the fuel tank so when it starts you have an emptyish tub.Steady stream of bubbles in the clear pipe by