Wxx3
Dauntless Award
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2013
- Messages
- 2,820
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Dauntless
- Vessel Make
- Kadey Krogen 42 - 148
An Electric Fuel pump story
Last week, I ended up with a blocked fuel line, which took me days to sort out, thinking it was just an air block, and then my lift pump, only for it to be neither.
One of the suggested solutions was to have a 12 volt electric fuel pump to check if the engine would run (still thinking it was a lift pump problem).
Larry on HOBO suggested that as long as I was going thru the trouble of getting an electric fuel pump, I should install it permanently to use as a priming tool, when I changed filters. He confidently told me it would only take half an hour. I translated his half an hour into my one day and it only took two, days that is.
(I will post the picture in the next posting, as I can do it from my cell phone far easier than from the laptop).
Now, finally to the point of the story.
This morning, leaving Rock Haven in the Chesapeake Bay, I had just checked fuel levels in both tanks, and after starting the engine, we were underway 16 minutes after engine start. 100 feet into the narrow channel, the engine sputters and dies. We quickly drop the anchor to stop my forward progress towards the half dozen boats moored 50 feet ahead. With the boat stopped I jump into the engine room and immediately see that both fuel tanks were off. I turned on the one that was supposed to be on (and that I had just checked to make sure it was on only 20 minutes ago).
Told me cruising mate, John, to start the engine and it started and died immediately.
So, THANKS to LARRY, (for his great ideas and constant support) and RICHARD (a great marina mate in Providence, RI, who helped me with the installation) I was able to turn on the electric fuel pump, and bled the primary in about 3 seconds and the secondary filters in about 5 seconds and started the engine. Ran like a champ. And it’s still running.
I think I will also start a new thread for this trip south, Stay tuned.
Richard on Dauntless heading south
Last week, I ended up with a blocked fuel line, which took me days to sort out, thinking it was just an air block, and then my lift pump, only for it to be neither.
One of the suggested solutions was to have a 12 volt electric fuel pump to check if the engine would run (still thinking it was a lift pump problem).
Larry on HOBO suggested that as long as I was going thru the trouble of getting an electric fuel pump, I should install it permanently to use as a priming tool, when I changed filters. He confidently told me it would only take half an hour. I translated his half an hour into my one day and it only took two, days that is.
(I will post the picture in the next posting, as I can do it from my cell phone far easier than from the laptop).
Now, finally to the point of the story.
This morning, leaving Rock Haven in the Chesapeake Bay, I had just checked fuel levels in both tanks, and after starting the engine, we were underway 16 minutes after engine start. 100 feet into the narrow channel, the engine sputters and dies. We quickly drop the anchor to stop my forward progress towards the half dozen boats moored 50 feet ahead. With the boat stopped I jump into the engine room and immediately see that both fuel tanks were off. I turned on the one that was supposed to be on (and that I had just checked to make sure it was on only 20 minutes ago).
Told me cruising mate, John, to start the engine and it started and died immediately.
So, THANKS to LARRY, (for his great ideas and constant support) and RICHARD (a great marina mate in Providence, RI, who helped me with the installation) I was able to turn on the electric fuel pump, and bled the primary in about 3 seconds and the secondary filters in about 5 seconds and started the engine. Ran like a champ. And it’s still running.
I think I will also start a new thread for this trip south, Stay tuned.
Richard on Dauntless heading south