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07-12-2020, 06:57 AM
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#1
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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Another bad fuel tank
Well I lost another fuel tank. Both of my 75 aft tanks, one port and one starboard. The last tank that went out was plumbed to my generator only. This leaves me with two tanks left. These two tank are on the starboard side in engine room and plumbed to the engine only. I want to dedicate one to the generator to get through the season.
These tanks are basically level with each other and they are connected at bottom with hose and valves for leveling out. There is a single sight glass in the middle of this hose that’s plumbed at the top to one tank return line. The sight gauge worked fine before but both tanks were dedicated to the main engine only.
Do I need to disconnect the top of the sight glass from the return and install a shut off valve just so I can keep up with level?
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Marty
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07-12-2020, 07:01 AM
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#2
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Guru
City: Oconto, WI
Vessel Name: Best Alternative
Vessel Model: 36 Albin Aft Cabin
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,145
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Why bother? How much do you run the genny?
pete
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07-12-2020, 07:10 AM
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#3
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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We run it mostly for ac only when out. Pretty muggy here in Tennessee. May just have to toughen up rest of the season.
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Marty
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07-12-2020, 08:52 AM
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#4
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Guru
City: Warwick, RI
Vessel Name: Susan Helena
Vessel Model: Albin40
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 523
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I ran into a similar problem. Just T off of the tank supply, one line to the engine racor, one to the generator racor. The return line from the generator gets T'd into the engine return line. Wouldn't bother changing the tank interconnects.
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07-12-2020, 09:41 AM
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#5
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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Right now I have the engine supply running from one tank and generator supply running from the other tank. The returns for both generator and main engine are tied together going to both tanks. The generator will only run about 3 or 4 minute then quit.
I just changed all my generator filters prior to my tank going out and did 4 hour run with no problems. I guess my filters on generator could be bad again.
Could one return be over powering the other and starving generator for fuel ?
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Marty
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07-12-2020, 09:56 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Warwick, RI
Vessel Name: Susan Helena
Vessel Model: Albin40
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 523
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The returns should play no part in that as long as the line is sufficiently large enough to handle the flow back to the tank. I have always had my 8kw westerbeke and my Lehman 135 returns on a common return line.
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07-12-2020, 09:57 AM
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#7
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Guru
City: Warwick, RI
Vessel Name: Susan Helena
Vessel Model: Albin40
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 523
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Small diameter copper tubing ? 1/4". Same as refrigerator ice maker.
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07-12-2020, 10:04 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: Warwick, RI
Vessel Name: Susan Helena
Vessel Model: Albin40
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 523
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Are both tanks vented? Is the connection between them open or closed? How is the gen hooked into the tanks?. Sounds like fuel starvation or air getting in the line.
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07-12-2020, 10:13 AM
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#9
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike66
Are both tanks vented? Is the connection between them open or closed? How is the gen hooked into the tanks?. Sounds like fuel starvation or air getting in the line.
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I’m going back out to check on it today. Both tanks are vented to same vent. I could have a the valves at the bottom of each tank to connecting line open. Thanks
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Marty
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07-12-2020, 10:17 AM
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#10
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Guru
City: Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Vessel Name: Island Pride
Vessel Model: Palmer 32'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,414
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pack Mule
Well I lost another fuel tank. Both of my 75 aft tanks, one port and one starboard. The last tank that went out was plumbed to my generator only. This leaves me with two tanks left. These two tank are on the starboard side in engine room and plumbed to the engine only. I want to dedicate one to the generator to get through the season.
These tanks are basically level with each other and they are connected at bottom with hose and valves for leveling out. There is a single sight glass in the middle of this hose that’s plumbed at the top to one tank return line. The sight gauge worked fine before but both tanks were dedicated to the main engine only.
Do I need to disconnect the top of the sight glass from the return and install a shut off valve just so I can keep up with level?
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What do you mean "lost another tank" Is it leaking or do you mean it quit feeding fuel to the gen. or engine.
If it is leaking from corrosion that's a big headache.
If the fuel is simply not feeding reliably for some reason then some effort and noodling should sort out the cause.
But which is it as it is not clear, to me. Maybe not enough coffee yet.
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07-12-2020, 10:19 AM
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#11
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Guru
City: Warwick, RI
Vessel Name: Susan Helena
Vessel Model: Albin40
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 523
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Simplist thing to do is return everything to how the tanks were set up with engine alone and operating the way you wanted. Then just T in the supply and and return lines for the generator. Should work fine
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07-12-2020, 10:28 AM
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#12
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C lectric
What do you mean "lost another tank" Is it leaking or do you mean it quit feeding fuel to the gen. or engine.
If it is leaking from corrosion that's a big headache.
If the fuel is simply not feeding reliably for some reason then some effort and noodling should sort out the cause.
But which is it as it is not clear, to me. Maybe not enough coffee yet.
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The tank is leaking. That makes two this year. I transfer all the fuel to a neighbors boat. He was pretty happy. I’ve got to bite the bullet and breakout the checkbook this time. I’m down from 450 gallons (which’s was way too much) in 5 tanks to just 125 total in two tanks for both generator and main engine.
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Marty
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07-12-2020, 10:44 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
City: Solomons MD.
Vessel Name: Sun Runner
Vessel Model: 1985 Mainship 34 Trawler MK III
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 488
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Does the genny cut off when running by itself or just with the main running ? Sounds like a fuel supply problem to the genny.
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07-12-2020, 11:20 AM
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#14
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Solly
Does the genny cut off when running by itself or just with the main running ? Sounds like a fuel supply problem to the genny.
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Cuts off by itself. I’ve got another fuel filter for generator boat t I’m out of racors for primary. I’m out here now and fixing pull filter on generator.
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Marty
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07-12-2020, 11:32 AM
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#15
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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Ok I just found something. On the tank that went bad that I disconnected also has it’s vent tied into the other two tank vents . I emptied this tank yesterday and disconnected the supply and return lines . I thought it was vented on it’s own . This tank has no fuel in it and it is totally disconnected from anything but the vent is tied to my last two good fuel tanks . Could this be it ? The generator was running fine before I started the rerouting. It’s tank just went bad .
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Marty
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07-12-2020, 12:39 PM
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#16
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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I clamped the vent off and changed fuel filter on engine.It still doing the same thing. I didn’t have an extra racor so I couldn’t change it . This one only has about 8 hours on it but it could be nasty . The last one was just two weeks ago . The electric fuel pump is fairly new. I notice the fuel pump doesn’t sound as loud as before when preheating engine. Must be a clogged racor. I hate to take it off with out a new one ready to go on. It’s always the simple things first. It sure was running good till I rerouted to different tank . Coincidence maybe .
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Marty
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07-12-2020, 12:59 PM
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#17
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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I edited last post so maybe it kinda makes sense now. I could use a rum and coke about now.
I can’t help but think I made some kind of mistake when rerouting hose.
__________________
Marty
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07-12-2020, 01:29 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Warwick, RI
Vessel Name: Susan Helena
Vessel Model: Albin40
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 523
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Have a rum and coke. Make sure your engine still runs. Make sure the generator didn't shut down due to overheat or low oil. Buy two T fittings.
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07-12-2020, 04:41 PM
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#19
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TF Site Team
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike66
Have a rum and coke. Make sure your engine still runs. Make sure the generator didn't shut down due to overheat or low oil. Buy two T fittings.
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So your saying T the supply to generator into both tanks and generator return to same return as main engine?
__________________
Marty
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07-12-2020, 06:53 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: Warwick, RI
Vessel Name: Susan Helena
Vessel Model: Albin40
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 523
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No, T the supply to the engine to make it supply the generator also. T the generator return line into the engine return line.
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