Well this is a new one for us... For the last eight years, about 15% of the time on start-up, I have had to bleed the starboard engine's fourth bleed screw. Usually just takes a couple manual pumps on the fuel pump lever and all was good.
Had to do it today for the first time in months. Went like normal. Couple of pumps and solid fuel. Engine fires right up. On my regular hourly ER check underway, I notice a diesel smell. Turns out I have fuel "squirting" out the bleed screw.
Shut the engine down and removed the screw completely. There are what appears to be small metal shavings at the base of the screw (which is ostensibly a bolt). I think, "wow, maybe that's what has caused the problem all these years." I clean up the screw, and put it back in.
Started up the engine again and fuel is no longer squirting out, but is still leaking out. And the screw is in tight enough, as I don't want to over-torque. So shut it down and went home on one engine.
Anyone else ever encounter this? I'm going to get ahold of American Diesel in the morning and order a couple bleed screws. Of course, I'm HOPING that is going to be the fix, and that the problem is not in the threads in the fuel injector housing...
Had to do it today for the first time in months. Went like normal. Couple of pumps and solid fuel. Engine fires right up. On my regular hourly ER check underway, I notice a diesel smell. Turns out I have fuel "squirting" out the bleed screw.
Shut the engine down and removed the screw completely. There are what appears to be small metal shavings at the base of the screw (which is ostensibly a bolt). I think, "wow, maybe that's what has caused the problem all these years." I clean up the screw, and put it back in.
Started up the engine again and fuel is no longer squirting out, but is still leaking out. And the screw is in tight enough, as I don't want to over-torque. So shut it down and went home on one engine.
Anyone else ever encounter this? I'm going to get ahold of American Diesel in the morning and order a couple bleed screws. Of course, I'm HOPING that is going to be the fix, and that the problem is not in the threads in the fuel injector housing...