the transfer pump only draws fuel from the tank and feeds it through the filters to the injection pump.

have you changed the filters and cleaned the filter housing. then bleed it properly. another spot for problems is the outlet strainer on the tank.
if that is all fine
then the problem is the injection pump or the injectors.
make sure the governor lever is getting full travel at the governor itself and thus the fuel rack is getting full travel if that isnt happening the engine wont get correct fuel for starting. if it was a bosch/pyrox system i would tell you to get a test needle and insert it on top of the injector to feel for it pulsing i dont know if these cat systems can pulse the fuel lines.

have you cracked the injector lines slightly and got clear fuel to the injectors? this may take a few goes to completely bleed the system and you may have to revisit each bleeder a few times to get all the air.

the next thing if the rack is working fully is to pull the injectors and have them pop tested to check set pressure and for proper spray pattern. any good injection service should be able to do this. all they need is the relevent spec sheet.

I had one more problem on my Adams with an IH TD9 the return valve in/on the inj. pump was plugged. I'm not sure how or if Cat uses a return valve but if the return line is clogged fuel will not flow through the system.

You might have had fuel at the injectors from before removing transfer pump, rebleed at the filter housing, open the lower valve first then when fuel appears close and open the top bleeder, when fuel appears, close, and open bleeders on injection pumps to get solid fuel stream.

like dan has said if the return line is blocked in some way that could also be a problem

Pretty sure the D2 5U has no return line and if there was and it was blocked you would see different symptoms. The returned fuel from the fuel transfer pump is transferred internally to the inlet.
You say you had the fuel transfer pump apart and reconditioned it. Was the machine running before you did the pump up? Do you have a working fuel pressure gauge on the machine? If there is no pressure on the gauge then the transfer pump is the problem. You should be able to get some pressure gauge movement by turning over the main engine with the pony motor. If it has been converted to electric start it may take a lot of winding to show up.
There is a valve inside the transfer pump that is a relief and regeneration valve that allows the pump to recirculate fuel back into the pump inlet make sure that it is not stuck open or damaged in any way.

 

Rome wrote:

Is the throttle opened or pulled back enough?

 Just give a good yank on throttle. ​​​​​​
 

Thanks for the information. It's all good. I'm going to start at the tank and work my way to the injectors. It fired briefly so it has to be a fuel supply problem.

I have found that a good working injection pump can draw enough fuel for a fast idle without any transfer pump at all and the diesel tank on the floor below the engine! I also found that I get a quicker job of bleeding by loosening the tube fittings at the injector and don't bother to crack the vent valves. All this experience from my carelessness with the dual-fuel setup on my D2 engine power plant.

I have changed many filters without bleeding the valves on the pumps. BUT I have had the times I pressurized the fuel tank and filled the filter housing run the pony motor with the line loose and nothing. Open the valves on the pumps and it finally runs after several hours fussing around.

I have never bought or made a socket to fit and pain to use the L shaped tool. But when quick and easy fail it is time to open the bleeder valves.