What would you do?

[BruceK]

Dear jklotz( aka cw), my sympathies on an unexpected expense. Of course you should retain a competent mechanic to do the repair. As I understand it, the seller was wiling to effect a repair, even attempted a repair which in due course proved unsuccessful/inadequate. Surely there is nothing wrong with asking the seller to pay or at least contribute, that was, as I understand it, what was agreed

 

[Blissboat]

Don't you worry, no one here will remember your DIY work in a month, but everyone will remember the check writer moniker.

On any boat, the two most important tools to keep readily at hand: 1) checkbook, and 2) credit card.

 

[Jklotz]

Dear jklotz( aka cw), my sympathies on an unexpected expense. Of course you should retain a competent mechanic to do the repair. As I understand it, the seller was wiling to effect a repair, even attempted a repair which in due course proved unsuccessful/inadequate. Surely there is nothing wrong with asking the seller to pay or at least contribute, that was, as I understand it, what was agreed

Thanks so much Bruce. As I mentioned previously, we are in a holding pattern as we wait for the Cummins tech on Friday. Sure hate to give up a week, time we wanted to be spending getting to know the boat, but so goes life. We need to be headed north for insurance purposes soon, so it would have been helpful before the trip. We'll adapt, we always do.

The builder, North Pacific, has hinted they might be willing to kick in something. Waiting to hear back from them on that, but I was aware the boat is no longer under warranty when I bought it. There is even the possibility Cummins will warranty it under "good will", since the engine is so new, but that's pure speculation at this point. Either way, it's got to be done. If I end up having to pick up the tab, well, then that's just how it goes. In the mean time, I plan to make the engine room, which is already pretty clean, spic and span, learn all the Garmin do dad's and trouble shoot why the stereo speakers in the pilot house won't come on.

Man plans, God laughs.

 

[Jklotz]

Don't you worry, no one here will remember your DIY work in a month, but everyone will remember the check writer moniker.

That's ok. I've been called worse.

 

[Mac2]

Sometimes pilot house speakers are dual purpose i.e. vhf, ssb, stereo etc. look for a toggle switch or knob to switch the sources. Then start to tear into things.

 

[Jklotz]

Sometimes pilot house speakers are dual purpose i.e. vhf, ssb, stereo etc. look for a toggle switch or knob to switch the sources. Then start to tear into things.

Great, thanks for that. I'll look into it in the am.

 

[Frosty]

In the mean time, I plan to make the engine room, which is already pretty clean, spic and span, learn all the Garmin do dad's and trouble shoot why the stereo speakers in the pilot house won't come on.

Even though you were "forced" into it, that sounds pretty fun and relaxing. i.e. a week on your new boat with "nothing" to do but get to know her, and the time to figure out less critical stuff you would have put off until later if you'd been able to head out right away. Here's to a great week puttering around, and then a good outcome on Friday

 

[Jklotz]

Even though you were "forced" into it, that sounds pretty fun and relaxing. i.e. a week on your new boat with "nothing" to do but get to know her, and the time to figure out less critical stuff you would have put off until later if you'd been able to head out right away. Here's to a great week puttering around, and then a good outcome on Friday

Yea, you're right. It's taken a lot to just get things organized, figure out where to put stuff, get the dogs onto a new routine, etc. Plus we have a car down here, which has been invaluable for all the trips to west marine, wallmart, etc. I suppose there are worse ways to send a week.

 

[PhilPB]

A little update: Called Cummins to see if they could send somebody out to give me a quote. They will be out next Thur or Fri. The part is no longer under any type of warranty, unfortunately. The guy I've been speaking to at North Pacific, who brokered the deal for the sellers side, is going to take it up with the owner of the company over the weekend and get back to me beginning of next week.

So, bad news is I'm stuck at the dock for a week. Good news is a solution is in the works and this will be resolved. My hope is NP will help with this and the Cummins guys can show up with a new pump, maybe a rebuild, and just swap it out. That's probably my fastest way to resolution. Fingers crossed.

The frustrating part of all this is I bought a newer boat hoping to avoid things like this. Oh well.

Quite a few boats ago (2006) I bought a new pontoon boat/motor for our camp thinking new must be better and I shouldn't have any problems. The motor's (Suzuki) fuel lines were not alcohol resistant which neither myself or the dealer knew and caused problems when the fuel (with Ethanol) systematically destroyed all fuel lines. I thought buying new at the time was the right decision...nope
Boats are opportunities just waiting to happen.

 

[Jklotz]

Cummins tech was a no show today. Finally, just got an email letting me know they are backed up and tomorrow is unlikely. This is beyond frustrating at this point. Does anybody know of a good Cummins mechanic in the Jacksonville, FL area?

 

[Mac2]

Sorry to hear that. Has anyone else confirmed it is a bad idea to run the engine with the leak?

 

[Jklotz]

Sorry to hear that. Has anyone else confirmed it is a bad idea to run the engine with the leak?

Yea, the guy from North Pacific has recommended I don't run the engine until this is fixed. Something about fuel going into the engine oil.

 

[Mac2]

Yea, the guy from North Pacific has recommended I don't run the engine until this is fixed. Something about fuel going into the engine oil.

I was hoping someone could confirm that. My fuel pump on my generator was leaking. It has two o-rings. One wore out and leaked to the outside of the pump. The other one maintained a seal to the interior of the engine-a built in redundancy.

 

[Jklotz]

I was hoping someone could confirm that. My fuel pump on my generator was leaking. It has two o-rings. One wore out and leaked to the outside of the pump. The other one maintained a seal to the interior of the engine-a built in redundancy.

I also read elsewhere that, with this engine, if the pump fails completely, it will put metal shaving throughout the entire fuel system, causing the need for a replacement of a lot of parts and many hours of labor. Not something I'd like to chance.

 

[DDW]

Cummins tech was a no show today. Finally, just got an email letting me know they are backed up and tomorrow is unlikely. This is beyond frustrating at this point. Does anybody know of a good Cummins mechanic in the Jacksonville, FL area?

This is one of the hazards of being a check writer.

I've fixed an engine a few times when writing a check meant not just a deduction from my bank account, but a 4 week delay while they earned it. Often the delay is more painful than the price.

 

[Jklotz]

This is one of the hazards of being a check writer.

I've fixed an engine a few times when writing a check meant not just a deduction from my bank account, but a 4 week delay while they earned it. Often the delay is more painful than the price.

I hear you loud and clear. Brand new, to us, late model, very expensive boat, we've owned a grand total of 11days now, and other than the shakedown cruise, we haven't been able to leave the dock. So incredibly frustrating. I wish I had the skills to do it myself! If I did, we'd be heading north about now.

 

[Frosty]

I hear you loud and clear. Brand new, to us, late model, very expensive boat, we've owned a grand total of 11days now, and other than the shakedown cruise, we haven't been able to leave the dock. So incredibly frustrating.

Arghhh! But you will. Then this can become a memory.

I wish I had the skills to do it myself! If I did, we'd be heading north about now.

Since you have the motivation, you can/will acquire the skills I bet. I tend to agree with you now though.... you are someplace safe and comfortable and it sounds as though you may still have some goodwill through one or more parties in terms of covering the cost.

But DDW has a point. So many times I would love to just write a check! But so often I can't find anyone to do the job correctly no matter how big the check (or it needs too much fiddling that someone else wouldn't do for love or money).

People comment, "Oh you must just love boat work since you do it so often!" Ha ha, no. More often I simply have to be the one to do it for reasons of time, wanting it done right -- or occasionally cost but that's the least of the three.

 

[Jklotz]

Arghhh! But you will. Then this can become a memory.

Since you have the motivation, you can/will acquire the skills I bet. I tend to agree with you now though.... you are someplace safe and comfortable and it sounds as though you may still have some goodwill through one or more parties in terms of covering the cost.

But DDW has a point. So many times I would love to just write a check! But so often I can't find anyone to do the job correctly no matter how big the check (or it needs too much fiddling that someone else wouldn't do for love or money).

People comment, "Oh you must just love boat work since you do it so often!" Ha ha, no. More often I simply have to be the one to do it for reasons of time, wanting it done right -- or occasionally cost but that's the least of the three.

All that makes sense to me.

 

[Mac2]

I also read elsewhere that, with this engine, if the pump fails completely, it will put metal shaving throughout the entire fuel system, causing the need for a replacement of a lot of parts and many hours of labor. Not something I'd like to chance.

Well that makes the decision and rationale to stay put easy. Keep us posted and I hope you get some recommendations for a mechanic.

 

[Diep]

Super frustrating.

The thing with all of this "check writing" business is a little strange to me. Really, how many "non-check writers" are fully capable of troubleshooting and repairing modern Tier 3 common rails?

Its all a lot of talk until something goes wrong, and no one rushes in to post when they fubar'd something on their motor and had to pay dearly for the mechanic to clean it up. Or got stranded or worse due to a problem of their own making. We're not talking about an old 2-stroke or even a mechanical NA engine here.

Basic maintenance and up keep, plus some troubleshooting skills for when you are far from home - you are already well on your way with that. Sitting in port with a new boat and barely-out-of-warranty motor with a fuel system issue? No way I would touch that!! At least without a more definitive diagnosis and prescription from the professional.

Keep burning up the phone, sometimes you need to be a squeaky wheel. But in between try to relax, work on other stuff on the boat and just enjoy the boat and the town. It's not the last time you'll be delayed for <insert reason> just try to take it in stride.

 

[Jklotz]

Super frustrating.

The thing with all of this "check writing" business is a little strange to me. Really, how many "non-check writers" are fully capable of troubleshooting and repairing modern Tier 3 common rails?

Its all a lot of talk until something goes wrong, and no one rushes in to post when they fubar'd something on their motor and had to pay dearly for the mechanic to clean it up. Or got stranded or worse due to a problem of their own making. We're not talking about an old 2-stroke or even a mechanical NA engine here.

Basic maintenance and up keep, plus some troubleshooting skills for when you are far from home - you are already well on your way with that. Sitting in port with a new boat and barely-out-of-warranty motor with a fuel system issue? No way I would touch that!! At least without a more definitive diagnosis and prescription from the professional.

Keep burning up the phone, sometimes you need to be a squeaky wheel. But in between try to relax, work on other stuff on the boat and just enjoy the boat and the town. It's not the last time you'll be delayed for <insert reason> just try to take it in stride.

Thanks. There is a marina right around the bend, Lamb's, that has been recommended. They are authorized Cummins warranty service. My plan is to give Cummins one last chance to, at least answer the phone at 9am (usuallygoes straight to vm when you call), then drive over to lambs and see what they can do for me. I figure going in person might help?

As for taking it in stride, I'm starting to think me buying a boat was the universe's plan to teach me patience.

 

[Helmsman]

Lamb’s has received several very good recommendations on the American Great Loop Cruisers Association forum. John Oster of Oster Marine works on diesels and is also recommended.

I wouldn’t wait on the mechanic to respond. Start working the phone to get someone who can fix it. Never wait once they fail to do what they say they are going to do.

 

[KnotYet]

I also read elsewhere that, with this engine, if the pump fails completely, it will put metal shaving throughout the entire fuel system, causing the need for a replacement of a lot of parts and many hours of labor. Not something I'd like to chance.

The Bosch CP4 fuel pump had a number of failures like that during the first several years
after it was adopted by many major engine manufacturers. I understand that the reasons
for those failures have been identified and addressed but I am not an expert on the subject.
A lot of these failures happened 20 or so years ago. The later versions are likely much better.
I don't think a fuel drip on the exterior has much to do with the prior internal self destruction.

 

[Jklotz]

Lamb’s has received several very good recommendations on the American Great Loop Cruisers Association forum. John Oster of Oster Marine works on diesels and is also recommended.

I wouldn’t wait on the mechanic to respond. Start working the phone to get someone who can fix it. Never wait once they fail to do what they say they are going to do.

Sounds like solid advice. Thanks. I'll be at Lamb's when they open.

 

[Jklotz]

The Bosch CP4 fuel pump had a number of failures like that during the first several years
after it was adopted by many major engine manufacturers. I understand that the reasons
for those failures have been identified and addressed but I am not an expert on the subject.
A lot of these failures happened 20 or so years ago. The later versions are likely much better.
I don't think a fuel drip on the exterior has much to do with the prior internal self destruction.

You sound fairly knowledgeable. I can't imagine they would not have addressed that at this point. Regardless, I still don't think heading out with the plan of mopping up the fuel from the bildge when we stop for the night and hoping for the best would be the most prudent plan. I'm sticking with staying put until we get this resolved.

 

[Sababa]

I call BS on anybody who doesn’t repair diesel engines for a living undertaking this repair themself. Anybody else does this once in their life. If they succeed, they are lucky. If they fail, they will find out at the worst possible moment, and with catastrophic results. Enough with the “check writer” shade.

 

[Delta Riverat]

No reason to not take her out for a spin, eh? Not a big ride, couple of hours, drift or toss the hook and enjoy the breeze.

 

[DDW]

The Bosch CP4 fuel pump had a number of failures like that during the first several years
after it was adopted by many major engine manufacturers. I understand that the reasons
for those failures have been identified and addressed but I am not an expert on the subject.
A lot of these failures happened 20 or so years ago. The later versions are likely much better.
I don't think a fuel drip on the exterior has much to do with the prior internal self destruction.

I've got a CP4 in my Ford truck. Not sure the QSB 6.7 has that, some sources say it does. Early on, enough failures that Ford has a packaged kit to address a failure, which is quite expensive - basically everything in the high pressure fuel system from the pump to the injectors (because it all gets contaminated with shrapnel). But that failure was not a leak, internal or external. And newer pumps seem less susceptible.

If it does have a CP4, you might want to consider the aftermarket kits being made to prevent all the subsequent damage, which reportedly work very well, and are far cheaper than the pump alone.

 

[Frosty]

Just as a note: @Jklotz My post #77 above was definitely not meant to suggest you undertake this repair yourself at this time. With a brand new-to-me boat and a big new expensive diesel, I'd be writing a check this time for sure.

I was more just responding to you saying you'd wanted to learn more DIY with time. I believe that you will because when a person is interested in doing so, they shall

I've heard good things about Lamb's too. Hope it works out with them tomorrow.

 

[Blissboat]

Was unaware that they perform authorized Cummins service, but Lamb's is a first-rate shop, under responsible ownership / management. Be prepared to pay, but I am confident that you'll get full value for what they charge. So sorry that you're having this experience right out of the gate with your new boat. OTOH, as others note, there are worse places to be wrangling engine issues.