Another great idea from you-
I already have a gauge on top based on a previous post to the list. Assuming the gauge is not leaking itself (a friend who installed one had problems similar to mine and it turned out to be the gauge was leaking!), I love the idea of testing the vacuum by closing the main shut-off and observing the gauge!! I thought the gauge was a good idea but, in practice, I did not know what good it did since I had no idea of what the vacuum should read when the engine was running. Certainly closing the fuel shutoff and pumping without starting would be a great diagnostic tool which I will put to use. Thanks, Charlie cenel...@aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Dennis C. via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> To: CnClist <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: Dennis C. <capt...@gmail.com> Sent: Mon, Jun 26, 2017 9:53 am Subject: Re: Stus-List Air in fuel line #2 Charlie, If you have room or if you relocate the Racor to where you have room, consider replacing the filter's T-handle with the Racor vacuum gauge. Not only will you know exactly when to change filter elements but it will provide you with another tool for troubleshooting a similar proplem in the future. You can close the fuel valve at the tank (assuming you have one), turn on the ignition and observe the vacuum. If you have good vacuum, you have a tight system. If not you can explore/test possible leak sites without having to start the engine. BTW, Touche's fuel pump is located on the back of engine a few feet from the Racor. Fuel pump location shouldn't be an issue in our fuel systems. The line size and small volume of flow shouldn't result in significant pressure drop on either the suction or discharge side of the pump. I agree the pump should be downstream of the primary filter. Dennis C. On Mon, Jun 26, 2017 at 8:34 AM, Charlie Nelson via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Thanks for your responses. To answer some of the questions raised, the pumps were placed downstream of the Racor for a couple of reasons. 1. The pump original location was upstream of the Racor (30 micron) which was recommended by the Beta engineer because these small pumps do not have much vertical lift capability. OTOH, their internals have a very small orifice that can and did block the fuel flow since it was unfiltered at that location. Since they were in-line pumps, the solution was to swap out the pump or filter (some have a small one on the inlet to the pump). However, doing this in the small confines of the pump location was a giant PITA, especially since they failed while the motor was in use--while on the water! Rigging a parallel set in this upstream location was also difficult because of the limited space. 2. To mitigate this failure possibility, 2 pumps with check valves were installed in parallel powered by the ignition switch, with another switch that would select which pump to use. Both of these have enough lift capability (I think!) to suck filtered fuel thru the Racor and push it to the primary filter. They certainly pumped fuel well when I took the hose off the engine filter--albeit initially with frothy fuel or just air in the line. Plus at this location, any fuel they see has passed thru the Racor so they are very unlikely to clog themselves. 3. My diesel mechanic is to determine the source of the problem today--if he can. If not, he will replace the pick-up tube assembly and install a new, possibly different Racor filter/separator. IMHO, the model I have (500?) has a poorly designed, double O-ring top seal, which on my boat is impossible to see because of where the Racor is mounted (high and on the other side from the access panel). Getting the filter replaced, complete with 2 new O rings, is possible but not easy. Plus there is no way I can determine if the seas are clean except by 'feel'. Maybe I will know more by tonight--if nothing else, both the Racor and the pickup assemble will be 'new'. Thanks again for your thoughts, Charlie Nelson Water Phantom 1995 C&C 36XL/kcb cenel...@aol.com _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray All Contributions are greatly appreciated! _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray All Contributions are greatly appreciated!
_______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray All Contributions are greatly appreciated!
