if the fuel filter has a drain then it is a water separator also. you don't have to check it every day, just as often as needed, so start with every day, if there's no water, go to once a month. Keep draining it every time you use it if there's even a drop of water. If it's below freezing then you might have ice in there but still get diesel dripping out, check it after it's been running a while, or when it's been above freezing long enough to melt the ice.
2 years on a fuel filter is fine with low hour use, the filter is the easiest thing to check on this issue, that's why you want to change it. If you wanted to tee a pressure/vacuum gauge into the fuel supply system in different places, that would tell you what is plugged up, and you might avoid changing the filter, probably easier to change the filter and take apart the suction side of the system. I'd wait UNTIL it's been running smooth and warmed up to change the filter, it's much easier to prime and restart a warm engine. You run a cold engine out of fuel from changing the filter and you'll be screwed.
You don't have to guess the fuel's not getting to the injectors, you've been told that about a dozen times and given about a dozen possibilities why. This second starting scenario makes it much more clear that you have a blocked fuel supply. The only other possibility (so unlikely that you shouldn't even consider at this point) is that there is a strange electrical issue affecting both the engine and hydraulics, I only say that because you were insistent that the hydraulics were sluggish too. Wait till the engine is figured out before worrying about the hydraulics.
2 years on a fuel filter is fine with low hour use, the filter is the easiest thing to check on this issue, that's why you want to change it. If you wanted to tee a pressure/vacuum gauge into the fuel supply system in different places, that would tell you what is plugged up, and you might avoid changing the filter, probably easier to change the filter and take apart the suction side of the system. I'd wait UNTIL it's been running smooth and warmed up to change the filter, it's much easier to prime and restart a warm engine. You run a cold engine out of fuel from changing the filter and you'll be screwed.
You don't have to guess the fuel's not getting to the injectors, you've been told that about a dozen times and given about a dozen possibilities why. This second starting scenario makes it much more clear that you have a blocked fuel supply. The only other possibility (so unlikely that you shouldn't even consider at this point) is that there is a strange electrical issue affecting both the engine and hydraulics, I only say that because you were insistent that the hydraulics were sluggish too. Wait till the engine is figured out before worrying about the hydraulics.