88 2.9 no start with weird fpr

[maxreps]

had this ranger since 1994 and have driven it about several different days this month... it cranked/started fine each time, as late as yesterday. Last night it rained like crazy and today it wont start, turns over fine(I suspected fuel or fire). Connected FP tester to the rail and proceeded to do a koeo test(since it wont start) but found a few things weird. After about 4 cycles of koeo it built to 40psi. I pulled the vacuum hose for the FPR off of the vacuum tree(not sure why but glad I did). Immediately smelled gas and fingers were wet. I squeezed the return fuel line gently with pliers and watched fuel in that vacuum line fluctuate, telling me the diaphragm is bad. But.....I tried a second round of koeo pressure testing and now it doesnt build any pressure at all. I removed that same vacuum line and plugged it trying to "bypass" the faulty FPR diaphragm issue but still no pressure now.

So my questions are; with a FPR leaking fuel through the vacuum hose like this one, should it still build pressure? Any ideas why the first test showed 40psi but second test shows no psi?

 

[maxreps]

...to further clarify the original issue, it has started and ran fine every day it was dry (no rain). I soaked the dizzy(inside and out) and plug wires with WD40 but still no start. I began with fuel pressure test because I dont have a spark tester at the moment

 

[huh?]

For the second test I'm guessing the return line may have needed to have been pinched to avoid the fuel from flowing back to the tank