[C38] engine problem

[les]

Hi, Angelika,
	On JACE, now Knee Deep, we had a similar problem, although not as bad
as you describe.  I eventually traced it to a dip in the breather line
that had accumulated water.  At low speed, the engine would be slightly
deprived of fuel until enough vacuum in the tank built up to draw more
air thought the accumulated water/fuel in the breather line.  Running at
higher speed, the vacuum was enough to consistently clear the vacuum, so
at speed the motor would run smoothly.  

	My cure was simple.  I took the breather line off the tank, and pulled
it back through the support loops until I had the dip stretched out, and
hooked a dinghy pump to it on suction and sucked out the fuel/water.
Then I used fresh water and dishsoap and vacuumed it through the pump,
into a pan. I used one of those soak up oil thingies to lift the fuel
off the top of the water, then dumped the water overboard.

        I then emptied the dinghy pump over board and hung the hose up
on a shroud to drip dry.  I pumped the pump about 2 minutes with no hose
to dry it out.

	No more problem.  Then I climbed down into the area as best I could and
strapped the breather line a bit tighter and tensioned it to remove the
dip.

Regards,
Les H
On Tue, 2013-01-15 at 00:17 +0000, rwaview9 at bigpond.com wrote:
> Thank you for the suggestion Paul however the fuel filters have been changed many times over the last six years of ownership of Boheme (ie both primary and secondary filters). 
> We have had diesel mechanics maintain that dirty fuel is the most likely culprit. In our early days of cruising we discovered that the Breather line was allowing sea water into the fuel in rough seas and we've made adjustments to avoid that happening again. 
> Despite changing filters, adding fuel additives and finally replacing all fuel after a tank flush we discovered we had a bug had taken hold in the fuel tank. Another complete clean and installation of a De-bugger apparatus has not eliminated the rough start after active sailing. 
> We are naturally perplexed. And wondering if there is a possibility that the motor is taking in water another way????? Or whatever?????
> 
> While the boat is over 22yrs old the motor has had only 1500hrs usage yet our head gasket needed replacing 18mths ago. 
> My husband is now concerned that whatever is causing the roughness may have more sinister implications hence our hope of drawing on the wealth of knowledge within the C38 Association. 
> Cheers angelika
> Sent via BlackBerry® from Vodafone
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PAUL NOTTE <panotte at shaw.ca>
> Sender: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:59:21 
> To: Catalina 38 Listserve<listserve at catalina38.org>
> Reply-To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
> Subject: Re: [C38] engine problem
> 
> Did you change the fuel filter at the left rear{while facing the stern} on the engine ?
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Angelika - A Room With A View" <rwaview9 at bigpond.com>
> To: "Catalina 38 Listserve" <listserve at catalina38.org>
> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2013 10:22:21 PM
> Subject: [C38] engine problem
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hello Fellow C38 Owners 
> 
> 
> 
> I have a problem/frustration with my M35 diesel engine and wonder if anybody else has experienced a similar occurrence. 
> 
> 
> 
> In settled conditions (eg harbour/marina) the motor starts and runs smoothly 
> however after an afternoon’s sailing in the local sailing comp the motor will start roughly and continues that way for about a minute or so and then settle into a smoother operation. 
> 
> 
> 
> I originally thought it was residual muck in the bottom of the fuel tank being stirred up while at sea however I have recently removed the tank to have alterations made and in the meantime had the lines (temporarily) connected to a Jerry-Can with clean diesel. 
> 
> 
> 
> The problem continues – ie runs roughly for 30-60secs then smooths out. 
> 
> 
> 
> Has anybody got any suggestions. 
> 
> 
> 
> Gary Millar 
> BOHEME (362) 
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