Help! Extended Crank..LOST...

Need help fellas, any suggestions would be appreciated.

I replaced the started this weekend due to it constantly locking up and having to use the old screw driver method to turn it over. After the install I tried to start it on but it did the same. I had to use a screw driver to give its first turn over crank but instead of it firing right up it would just have a long extended crank without it turning on. Flipped the key back and tried again and nothing. Finally after the third time it turned on and sounded really good. Well we left it on for a few minutes then turned it off and tried to turn it on again, same thing, just extended crank and not turning on. I went ahead and changed out the filters and I thought bingo we got it, #### thing turned on and again stayed on and stayed sounding strong. I went ahead and left it on for a little while I did the whole inspection on the truck and trailer. Made sure to check all fluid levels and ext. then after letting it run for about 20-30 I turned it off again to give it one last check to see if it would turn on but lo and behold nothing. This time I had to use ether for it to turn on. I was left in a "what the hell" state of mind, I took it to my uncles yard and after seeing what it did he told me it sounded like a small air leak. I mean it takes ether to turn on and stays on, runs good and everything just the long extended crank and needing the ether to make it start.

He looked at the check valves (cleaned them and looked to see if the o rings looked good) and I had also found a loose fitting to a fuel line underneath the cab. I tightened it back on and BAM it turned on perfectly! I must've turned it on and off at least 3-4 times all with at least 20 minutes in between and every time it turned on really good. Turned on good Monday morning, ran good also but that afternoon at the offload location I had to turn it off and it did the same. Long extended cranks and had to use ether to turn it on. Same thing this morning except this time I also had to use the screw driver on the starter and ether to get it to turn on.

What the hell could it be? Could it be the check valves starting to fail? I mean it runs normal once it's on, it's getting it to turn on that's the problem.

I wondered if maybe I didn't tighten up the stater enough? Or maybe my key switch is messing up but my uncle thinks it's one of the check valves on the primer? Hell I can't argue with him cause he knows a lot of the mechanical part of this business lol. How dare I, who doesn't know but the basics question his 20+ years in the bis lmao.

Sorry for the long read fellas but had to describe it to the T just in case


I own an 02Peterbilt with a Cat C15 engine. Double fuel filter and it does have the prime pump

 

When I say it just turned on I mean it didn't have that extra long extended crank. It gave me the normal start. I know they all have their usual 3 second give or take crank but mine is is going way over without it starting. This just started this Sunday after the new starter install

 

Was thinking that but it feels like air just because of the long crank. And once I use the ether it starts and stays on

 

It does start but after I throw some ether to help it. Once it starts it runs and idles beautifully.

 

That's what it looks like. My uncle said it looks to be a small one because once it starts it stays on and runs fine.

I tefloned the connection and tightned it back, by that time he had cleaned the check valve on the primer and it started right up. I thought it was the line connection cause it would start up like normal till Monday afternoon it went back to the same extra long extended crank. I checked the connections and it was nice and tight.

 

I'm going to replace the check valve once I get home. I'm wondering if the cleaning of it helped for the time being till it either clogged back up or went back to being infective? Maybe it's starting to go out.