[C38] Facet Fuel Pump pressure

Thu Apr 12 09:05:31 EDT 2012

Max,
The lift pump should always be after the primary fuel filters. It sucks the fuel 
through the filters. That's why there are often inline vacuum gauges to let you 
know when a filter is in need of replacing.  

 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Common Sense is a rare gift from the Gods.
Most people have only technical training!
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span those hours spent in sailing.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

When in doubt, try the vice You haven't tried before!

________________________________
From: Max Soto <maxsoto at gmail.com>
To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
Sent: Wed, April 11, 2012 8:53:39 PM
Subject: Re: [C38] Facet Fuel Pump pressure

One more question...

I noticed that on Estancia, the fuel line leaves the tank straight forward to 
the fuel pump, then the Racor, and then to the engine spin-on filter. There was 
a small outboard style inline filter between the tank and the pump, but I got 
rid of it.
I'm also thinking that the PO installed the pump first for better suction, but 
shouldn't the Racor  be  located first???  Other wise the pump element can get 
clogged... Am I right or completely lost???

Regards,
Max

El 11 de abril de 2012 10:53, Max Soto <maxsoto at gmail.com> escribió:

Dave and Tom,
>Thanks  a lot. Now I know that almost any pump for a carburated engine will 
>work. I wasn't able to find a facet (now Purolator) pump here, so I found it for 
>$69 on ebay, and Catalinadirect asks $237 for the same pump. That pump has a 
>filter element on the inside, and I was hoping that it was just clogged but it 
>was clean.. I wasn{t aware that it also has a magnet for collecting debris.   
> I just took a spare pump that my father has for his old Jag while I get the new 
>one...
>I've been planning to install a outboard prime bulb to my engine, just for back 
>up, but you know, it was not on my priorities list... ask me now! LOL
>
>
>Regards,
>Max
>
>
>
>
>El 11 de abril de 2012 05:58, tdtron at earthlink.net <tdtron at earthlink.net> 
>escribió:
>
>Hello Max,
>> 
>>I don't know what the recommended supply pressure is for the Universals but 
>>these engine as you know you have two pumps, the electric lift pump and the 
>>mechanical injector pump.
>> 
>>The electric pump is the "lift" pump and it's only duty is to supply fuel to the 
>>injector pump and the actual pressure should not be important.
>> 
>>I was on a sail around the Florida Keys once in a Contessa 26 with a British 
>>Petter engine and the engine driven mechanical pump failed causing the engine to 
>>die coming into Ft. Lauderdale.  We diagnosed the problem that the diaphragm in 
>>the cam driven automotive type mechanical pump had ruptured causing loss of 
>>pressure to the injector pump.
>> 
>>We sailed without power back to a slip near the 17th Street causeway sailing by 
>>million dollar yachts hoping we could maintain control in a narrow channel.  
>>That was a really nervous adventure.  It was on a Sunday morning and we couldn't 
>>find anyone open who could sell us a replacement pump to fit the Petter engine.
>> 
>>As a "Rube Goldberg" remedy, we raised the fuel tank that was mounted in the 
>>port sail locker high enough to gravity feed the engine.
>> 
>>By raising the fuel tank we were able to crank up and head out of the harbor and 
>>down the Keys with no further problems.  Several years later my friend who owned 
>>the boat sold it but he never replaced the mechanical lift pump.  He removed the 
>>mechanical lift pump and covered the hole in the engine block with a gasket 
>>cover plate and to this day that boat is still running with no lift pump.  The 
>>head pressure of the fuel tank was only about 12" above engine's injector pump 
>>but we found that we could still motor sail heeling enough that the fuel tank 
>>was actually below the injector pump but since the fuel line had no leaks, the 
>>vacuum held from the injector pump and the engine ran without problems.
>> 
>>With a properly primed fuel line, from that experience I discovered that the 
>>lift pump is really not needed.  However, if there is any leakage at all in the 
>>fuel line the vacuum is lost and you will lose engine power so I am not 
>>advocating getting rid of the lift pump but from my experience I don't think the 
>>actually lift pump pressure is very important.
>> 
>>After my own experience I ran into another sailor who had a lift pump failure 
>>and he made a temporary fuel line from an outboard fuel line and used the primer 
>>bulb to prime his fuel injector pump.  The last time I ran into this salty 
>>sailor his outboard fuel line with a primer bulb was still his only lift pump 
>>and he never gave it another thought.  He was actually running a negative 
>>pressure since his fuel tank was below his engine injector pump.
>> 
>>Tom Troncalli
>> 
>> 
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>>From: Max Soto 
>>>To: Catalina 38 Listserve
>>>Sent: 4/10/2012 4:48:07 PM 
>>>Subject: [C38] Facet Fuel Pump pressure
>>>
>>>Hi there, 
>>>Do anyone knows what's the electric fuel pump pressure that is used on the 
>>>Universal 5424 / M30 engines?? 
>>>
>>>The original screw up my Eastern week trip when she died on me at the middle of 
>>>a channel, then, I  hit it with a wrench and started working.
>>>With some gentile persuation every now and then with the wrench, she took me 
>>>back home......
>>>I found several Facet pumps on ebay, same looks, but different pressure....
>>>I'm planning to get something like this locally and save my next weekend 
trip!
>>>
>>>
>>>Regards,
>>>-- 
>>>Max Soto
>>>C38 #198 ESTANCIA
>>>Puntarenas, Costa Rica
>>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Listserve mailing list
>>Listserve at catalina38.org
>>http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>-- 
>Max Soto
>C38 #198 ESTANCIA
>Puntarenas, Costa Rica
>

-- 
Max Soto
C38 #198 ESTANCIA
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
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