Cat 931C white smoke no start

I was going to help a friend take a backhoe cylinder apart but now I need to help him get the machine started. It ran good a month ago but now it won't start but has some white smoke. I'm thinking it could be not getting enough fuel and/or lost prime. Could lack of fuel still cause white smoke? I'm thinking to drain some fuel to see what it looks like then check the screen on the lift pump to see if it's blocked. Then loosen injector lines and prime it. Does this sound like a good first step?

Bio/blend diesel pulls moisture from the air, sitting & white smoke sounds like moisture try some atf & fresh fuel in the filter. Test strips can check to see if water is in the fuel.

I'm going to pick up a new filter. I don't think he's changed it before. He hasn't used the machine much since he bought it.

you try giving it a sniff of starting fluid

Yeah, but it pretty much stalled the engine because the starter is shot. It didn't help we were also trying to prime it. He ended up breaking the solenoid mount off to get the starter out and ordered a smaller aftermarket starter. We tried to see if we could take the starter apart but it couldn't. We took the back cover off and it had a strong burnt smell. The armature was completely glazed over and black. We figured there were more issues with it too.

Sounds like the same issue I had with my 955L a couple years ago. I also cooked the old starter trying to get fuel going. I ended up bypassing the tank and running fuel out of a can to confirm something finally gave up in my injection pump. Took it and the injectors to a rebuild shop. Got it back, timed pump, primed everything, and it has been smooth sailing since. Knock on wood. I think that whole debacle cost me around $2800 for the IP work and a new starter.

It's getting fuel at all the lines from the injection pump except number 1. I'm pretty sure cranking it faster will bring it to life. Not enough heat in the cylinders to fire but it did fire once right at the end of cranking. Tried again and nothing. It started up and ran fine back in May after sitting over the winter. I thought the screen in the fuel line could be plugged and there was some crap in it. Also thought might as well change the fuel filter as it was old and had some rust on it.

ever get this figured out

I think it's cranking too slow. Just waiting for the new starter which should be here pretty soon.

Have an update. Couldn't get fuel at number 1 but did at all other cylinders on the injection pump. Getting lots of smoke but wouldn't fire. Was cranking really good and about 3 intermittent shots of starting fluid got it going. Had a slight miss for a few seconds but cleared up quickly and ran good. Figure it must have had a big air pocket at number 1 but the faster spinning was the game changer. Now need to fix the leaking boom cylinder on the backhoe. Not really looking forward to it.