Engine not run for 4 years

[Ink]

Some good tips there, thanks.
A fully charged battery is a given as new ones will be required. I'd also use a jerrycan of fuel as what's in the tanks may be pretty buggy and will require polishing or discarding. Not so sure about using a hot air gun or fan heater to warm the oil up, it's a big lump to heat up, but I'll bear it in mind.

Once you get the engine started I would then change all the belts. They will have been sitting in the same position all that time which doesn't do them any good.

Ink

 

[dankilb]

The old crank an engine was not so a problem when Petrol ..... easy to not have ignition live ..... but on a diesel - that crank can have it fire .... seen it happen ...

Very true. Always assume it’s ‘live’ and might fire. No harm if on the starter, dry on the raw water side, and no bits/fluids are where they shouldn’t be (or aren’t where they should!). Our engine hasn’t had fuel plumbed for years (which of course doesn’t mean it won’t find something to run on!).

 

[Slowboat35]

(I’m sure things like that would be done with rare/classic cars, aero engines, etc.).

My point exactly. It isn't a racing car or aero engine so absolutely no need to treat it like one. It's a very agricultural, bullet proof old diesel and with clean fuel and decent oil will run on demand - and even take considerable abuse - for decades with virtually no maintenance whatsoever.