3406C mech fuel issue?

So I have an 8pn mech C that yesterday while I had the truck idling cold it started sputtering chugging with white smoke and died. It wouldn't Start again. First thing I thought was fuel naturally so I primed it and it started right up and idled smoothly for a few seconds like nothing was wrong. No sputtering or smoke. Then suddenly it did the same and died. I can prime it and it will start and idle no problem for a few seconds then died with sputter and white smoke. I have no reason to believe it's the hoses from the tank as this was a sudden problem with no symptoms or warning. Both filters are full. I have not yet checked fuel pressure as I am working on getting a fitting to do so. Is it possible the transfer pump went bad just like that? What else could be preventing fuel pressure from building? Any other ideas?

 

No. It sputtering and dies regardless of throttle input. The filters remain full

 

I haven't had a chance to do much diagnosing yet, Ive been on the road. After talking to some folks I'm leaning towards obstruction in a line or fitting. When I unscrewed the separator there was 2 pieces of what looked like silicone on top of the filter. One was surprisingly large. I think that's what I will find pre separator. Just a hunch

 

So, ive pulled all the lines from the tanks, including the tee, to the transfer pump. Nothing is plugged up or restricted. I blew out the hoses and nothing came out. I removed the primary filter base and checked that too. All good. The line from the primary to the pump was mostly full of fuel but not all the way. Both filters were partially full. I got rained out before I could pull the lines from pump to Secondary filter. At this point I'm thinking the transfer pump failed, especially since the engine runs fine on the hand prime until that pressure is gone. I don't have vacuum or pressure gauges to properly diagnose so I do what I can with what I got. I just ordered a new pump. It's aftermarket but at $262 I was OK with that. I'm still going to pull the rest of the lines from injection pump back to make sure everything is good.

 

10 4. Thanks for that.