[C38] Bloody Diesel

[D McC]

Yes Max,
I installed a tee in the return line. From there the 1/8" tubing leads to the 
valve at the injection pump. There is a tee just after that valve and 1/8" 
tubing leads to the valve at the engine fuel filter.  I used all brass 
compression fittings and the highest pressure-rated needle valves that I could 
find. There is no high pressure fluid after the needle valves. I used 
translucent poly tubing so I could see if the fuel and air was actually moving 
through. Also, poly tubing is quite resistant to diesel. I may replace the poly 
with metal at some point. All fittings are readily available except for the 
adapter fittings that replaced the original bleeding bolts. Each has a different 
metric thread!!!

I am trying to find the receipts for those adapters so I can report where I 
found them. 


~Dave 

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


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: Sun, April 15, 2012 1:33:49 PM
Subject: Re: [C38] Bloody Diesel

Very clever  Dave!

Did you installed a couple of tees to the return fuel line for the 1/8" tubing 
from the valves????

Max


El 15 de abril de 2012 12:08, D McC <cat38skip at yahoo.com> escribió:

All this talk about Max's query and the stories of fuel problems has prompted me 
to finally post this.
>A couple of years ago I added biocide to my fuel tank and shortly after, while 
>motoring back to the slip, the engine died of fuel starvation. The filters were 
>clogged. I changed the filters, bled the system, cleaned up the mess and went on 
>my happy way. Next time out after about an hour of motoring the engine died 
>again. New filters and another cleanup and no fuel would pump.  Turns out that 
>the biocide had killed off the colony of critters living in the tank and they 
>dropped to the bottom and that was enough added crud to  completely clog the 
>pickup tube. I had to use a compressor to clear the line. 
>
>
>I disconnected the fuel tank and started using an external tank until I can get 
>my tank cleaned out. All of those repeated bleeding exercises prompted me to 
>find a better way to bleed the air from the fuel system. 
>
>
>
>Bloody Diesel or How I Solved Bleeding the Air from the Diesel Fuel Line.  I 
>have the original 3 cyl Universal 5424 (M-30) Engine in my 1982 Catalina 38.  
>Due to a severe debris problem in my fuel tank, I have had to change filters 
>often and
>then bleed the system.
>(tank to be scrubbed soon and for the interim, I am using an external tank) 
>Bleeding this fuel system is nasty and messy and requires feeling around to find 
>a 
>
> nearly impossible-to-see bleeding 'bolt' on top of the engine fuel filter 
>housing. 
>
>Performing this task while under way is an exercise in near-futility and keeping 
>one's
>latest meal down....while taking a partial bath in diesel fuel.   My solution 
>has been to install a system of valves and tubing to bleed the air and fuel
>back into the tank via the injector fuel return line.  My first test of the 
>installation was a complete success ...  I replaced my filters, turned the key 
>and electric fuel pump on, opened the new engine
>fuel filter valve for a minute or so, closed it, opened the injector valve for 
>another 
>
>minute, closed it, warmed the injectors, turned the starter and she started as 
>though
> I had never opened the fuel system. 
>Not a single oil diaper was harmed in the bleeding process. My solution consists 
>of 2 different and hard-to-find metric to NPT thread adapters 
>
>that replaced the bleeding bolts on the top of the engine fuel filter housing 
>and 
>
>injector pump, 2 needle valves, various compression fittings and a few feet of 
>1/8" 
>
> poly tubing.   I neglected to take pictures of the components and project as it 
>was assembled. 
>
>I'll try to follow with pictures of the finished product and a parts list for my 
>setup.
>~Dave McCarthy
>sv Pretty Lady ~ Catalina 38 #148
>
>
>
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>
>
>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!
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Listserve mailing list
>Listserve at catalina38.org
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>
>


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