Allis 7020 Cold Start Issue/Engine Health?

I could use some advice on my 7020.  My issue is that it refuses to start cold (tested in 50F shop).  Background is that this tractor has an engine transplanted out of M2 combine that I moved the intercooler parts over from the 7020 engine.

·         The injection pump and injectors were rebuilt within the last 90 days.

·         In swapping over the hardware from the original engine, I did pull the cam to replace the front plate…and therefore I reset the tappets.

·         The starter and batteries seem to spin the engine fast enough.

·         In trying to start it cold, I tried it at ¼ throttle and full throttle.  Neither yielded success.

·         Using the glow plug for 60 seconds as a starting aid does not help.   The intake housing does get warm during its’ use, so I think the glow plug is working.

·         If I plug it in and allow the block to get to 80F, it will start.

·         I measured compression with all injectors out using cranking speed and a cold engine. The cylinders range 200 to 210 psi across the 6 cylinders.

o   This evenness leads me to believe I don’t have one or two dead cylinders.

·         I measured compression after letting the tractor get up to a running temperature of 140F.  I then pulled #6 injector, installed compression tester and then restarted it running at idle (750-800 rpm).  This yielded a compression of 350 psi.

o   This above test matches what I found in a 185 Service Manual…it states under similar circumstances, a healthy psi is 500.  My 7020 Service Manual offers no criteria for a compression test.   I noted from the parts book that the piston from a 185 to a 7020 is a different part number so I don’t know if I can use the 185 spec.

·         When running, the engine has near zero blow by out of the valve cover.   This makes me believe the engine isn’t shot.  Also, I can run it down the road in high gear and it seems to have plenty of power.  I wish I had access to a dyno to measure actual horsepower.

 

What are people’s thoughts on what my issue is?   Has anyone ran a compression test on a healthy 649/301 turbocharged engine?

Edited by nowaktj - 2 hours 12 minutes ago at 10:38am

Forgot to add detail about timing.   I have double checked and the lines match up perfectly for 18 degrees BTDC.  The dampener mark could be off, so I moved the pump gear back 1 tooth and forward 1 tooth and it did not run as well.