Attention Larry DeMers - $2.35 fix

[John Dupras]

Larry - (and all the other guys who gave input) just a note as promised on what turned out to be the problem on Mariah and the MD7a that wouldn't start. After pulling out what little hair I have left trying to figure out why the engine would run once bled thaen not run after sitting from anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, I decided to "think like a bubble". Every time it wouldn"t start, there was air in the primary (engine) filter. So, if I was a bubble, I would seek the highest point on the path of least resistance, right? since both fuel lines from the feed pump have a loop in the bottom, if there was air in the pump, it would go to the primary filter while attempting to start and lock the injector pump. Turns out, the guy who had Mariah before had painted the engine, including the feed pump. In trying to be a concientious maintenance guy, I had tried (without success) to remove the cover of the feed pump to clean the internal screen. This was not possible. What was possible, however, was to break the seal to the cover allowing air to seep in through a pinhole, but ONLY WHEN THE SYSTEM WAS DE-PRESSURIZED!!!When running, there was the smallest of leaks that gathered on the bottom of the pump, and was not visible untoil I crawled headfirst into the pit. Anyway, a $2.35 gasket solved the problem, (but only after removing the pump, popping the cover off with an ice pick and cleaning out the old gasket). Thanks to all that pointed me in the right direction. By the way, the Volvo guy told me that with 2 filters, I should never mess with that pump cover because it will never seal again if you try to pry it off. No kidding.....

John
s/v Mariah



john_dupras@hotmail.com

[Larry DeMers]

Damn John...you might have found the tiny leak that plaques my system occasionally!!! I did exactly as you did. I pried the lift pumps cover off to clean the screen even though I have a 10 micron Racor and a 1 micron Fram Black Beauty (each with water separation sections) ahead of the lift pump. I did not replace that gasket, but made one from gasket paper stock..but it did not seal satisfactorily, and I did spend time on it repeatedly trying for a better fitting. That could be my problem also.

Glad that you found the problem. The hair one has left should be preserved..not pulled! Now you gotta wear a hat all the time!!

Heh..well thanks for the feedback.


Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~Having a blast on Superior~~

Larry - (and all the other guys who gave input) just a note as promised on what turned out to be the problem on Mariah and the MD7a that wouldn't start. After pulling out what little hair I have left trying to figure out why the engine would run once bled thaen not run after sitting from anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, I decided to "think like a bubble". Every time it wouldn"t start, there was air in the primary (engine) filter. So, if I was a bubble, I would seek the highest point on the path of least resistance, right? since both fuel lines from the feed pump have a loop in the bottom, if there was air in the pump, it would go to the primary filter while attempting to start and lock the injector pump. Turns out, the guy who had Mariah before had painted the engine, including the feed pump. In trying to be a concientious maintenance guy, I had tried (without success) to remove the cover of the feed pump to clean the internal screen. This was not possible. What was possible, however, was to break the seal to the cover allowing air to seep in through a pinhole, but ONLY WHEN THE SYSTEM WAS DE-PRESSURIZED!!!When running, there was the smallest of leaks that gathered on the bottom of the pump, and was not visible untoil I crawled headfirst into the pit. Anyway, a $2.35 gasket solved the problem, (but only after removing the pump, popping the cover off with an ice pick and cleaning out the old gasket). Thanks to all that pointed me in the right direction. By the way, the Volvo guy told me that with 2 filters, I should never mess with that pump cover because it will never seal again if you try to pry it off. No kidding.....

John
s/v Mariah

demers@sgi.com