I am trying to get the Cummins NHC-250 running. I have got fuel up to the fuel pump, but have none out of the fuel shutoff valve. I turned the screw to the emergency setting according to the manual, but still have no fuel coming out.
Is is possible that the valve is defective, or do I have to prime the fuel pump somehow?
Thanks

If you have a multimeter, check to make sure you are getting power at the solenoid on the fuel shutoff valve. (The run switch must be in the "Run" or "ON" position.) Fuel should flow when the solenoid is energized and the pump is spinning. If you are getting power, the valve may be getting hung up. They are fairly simple to take apart to inspect. I'm assuming you have a Cummins PT pump?

Thank you for your response. The engine is from the 70's and that might be the problem.

Man, I wish our Cummins engines were from the 70's... I'm used to fiddling with 40's and 50's era Cummins diesels. ;) Good luck! Let us know what you find.

When you say you have fuel to the PT pump, do you mean that it is actually pulling fuel all the way into the pump inlet? If it is having a hard time pulling the fuel up, try filling the filters with cheap Dexron transmission fluid. If you can pull the suction line off and fill it with ATF, crank the engine for a second, then reconnect the line. The ATF is a little thicker and helps prime the pump. The detergents in it will also help break anything loose that may be stuck in the pump.

Is your fuel shutoff valve a mechanical or electric version? On our 25 ton, it has a cable operated mechanical shutoff. However, on the about 1 million cummins generators I have worked on, they always have electric ones. I don't think the mechanical one is available anymore....

It is an electric one. It has a screw to bypass the valve, but that did not help. I am going to have to take it apart to see if any fuel is there.