[C38] Engine Issues

[Vassili Valayannopoulos]

Thanks a lot for sharing Rick. I suspect the fuel pump as well as I
realized during my troubleshooting that there is no fuel arriving at the
injector lines while I do have fuel reaching the pump. I will be working on
disassembling the pump this weekend. I will make sure to take pictures and
share with this group.
Crossing fingers that it will be as easy to fix as yours!

Thanks again!
Vassili

Sailing on Naftaki, Catalina 38
Boston, MA


On Fri, Aug 5, 2022 at 3:01 PM Richard Gershberg <rickg at gershberglaw.com>
wrote:

> This just came up a few weeks ago. Momentous has the same Universal Diesel
> 30 (24 or 25 HP). On a return to the slip after running the engine about 20
> minutes, all of sudden the engine started to sputter and then died. It
> would restart and run a little and then die. We were able to get it started
> long enough to get into the slip.
>
> We decided it was the fuel pump.
>
> We looked at the filters which looked ok and started up and it ran for as
> long as it needed on the next run so we thought we were ok. Maybe it was a
> fluke of some sort….
>
>
>
> The following week we were on our way to a race, 3 motoring hours away and
> the engine died and would not restart.
>
> While under sail, my engineer son rebuilt the fuel pump, taking it apart
> and cleaning it.
>
> There was gunk that had gotten through the filters, possibly a buildup of
> fuel winterizing-stabilizing products.
>
> When the pump  was reassembled it made a terrible loud noise so he took it
> apart again.
>
> Turns out it was a German manufactured pump so we pulled up the diagram on
> one of the crew’s phone and one the of pieces was upside down.
>
> After reviewing the diagram he put it back together, no noise and after 5
> or so progressively improving starting attempts the engine ran fine. Whole
> operation took about 50 minutes, while under sail.
>
> Each time he put it back together we added fuel to the line in an attempt
> to reduce any air pockets.
>
>
>
> We made it to the “Race To Baltimore” (which started from the mouth of the
> Magothy River-Chesapeake Bay) with 2.5 minutes left before our starting
> time would expire!
>
>
>
> Since then the engine starts right up, purrs like a kitten and runs fine.
>
> BTW the fuel filter showed no dirt at all throughout the process.
>
>
>
> I am sending this without pictures or model numbers but if needed I can
> pull such the next time I am on the boat.
>
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Rick
>
>
>
> *Richard L. Gershberg, Esquire*
>
> *Gershberg & Associates, LLC*
> 11419 Cronridge Drive, Suite 7
> Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
> Tel:  410-654-3850
> Fax: 410-654-3880
> rickg at gershberglaw.com
>
>
>
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