Posted by lance_ryley (lance_ryley@…>)
My mechanic and I cleaned the sludge out of the racor bowl, changed
both filters, tightened everything we could find, bled the engine,
and fired it up. It started, but we observed an interesting
phenomenon. It looked like air bubbles were being sucked up through
the bottom of the racor filter, but no fuel was leaking out. We
figure this means that the air is getting in between the filter and
the tank somewhere (of course - the part of the fuel line most
hidden). Today’s afternoon task is to trace out the fuel line from
under the sink to the filter.
In the meantime, I’ve been trying to find a supplier for the spin-on
fuel filter adapter for the Perkins 4108. Some posts a few years ago
mention a website and email address which are no longer in service.
anyone have a current supplier?
Thanks,
Lance
Posted by Paul McFadden (pwhitmac@…>)
While you have your mechanic there, you might want to consider installing a fuel “boost” pump as close to the fuel tank as possible. That way you can pressurize the fuel lines and quickly locate any fuel leaks. This also facilitates bleeding the engine in about 1/10th the time it normally takes. Get a 12volt unit, diesel compatible, of about 4psi output. Switch it anywhere it’s convenient to work on the engine. I’ve had one on my last four boats including my present Hoyt32. I also use it anytime I’m powering in close quarters where an power loss would be, at least, an embarrassement, you know, like they use them in airplanes during landing & takeoff.PWMlance_ryley <lance_ryley@…> wrote:
My mechanic and I cleaned the sludge out of the racor bowl, changed both filters, tightened everything we could find, bled the engine, and fired it up. It started, but we observed an interesting phenomenon. It looked like air bubbles were being sucked up through the bottom of the racor filter, but no fuel was leaking out. We figure this means that the air is getting in between the filter and the tank somewhere (of course - the part of the fuel line most hidden). Today’s afternoon task is to trace out the fuel line from under the sink to the filter.In the meantime, I’ve been trying to find a supplier for the spin-on fuel filter adapter for the Perkins 4108. Some posts a few years ago mention a website and email address which are no longer in service. anyone have a current supplier?Thanks,Lance
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Posted by katorpus (katorpus@…>)
I had an experience like this with a previous boat. Finally figured
out that I had crimped the large o-ring gasket that seats the Racor
bowl to the filter base. Replaced it…no more bubbles.
The o-ring had only a TINY little crease in it, but it was enough to
let air in. Apparently, it WASN’T enough to let fuel OUT, because no
leaking or seepage was evident.
First rule of mechanics…if something isn’t RIGHT after you do
mechanical work, go back over what YOU did before tearing into the
rest of the system… This axiom especially holds true when a “new”
type of problem (such as this one) crops up where it didn’t exist
before. It’s unlikely that a filter change caused a leak “upstream”
of the filter, where none existed before.
Before you trace the fuel line all the way back to the tank, fit a
temporary inlet connection to the filter and draw fuel from an open
container of fuel (like a coffee can). If the problem is still
there, then you won’t find it further back upstream.
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “lance_ryley”
<lance_ryley@y…> wrote:
My mechanic and I cleaned the sludge out of the racor bowl,
changed
both filters, tightened everything we could find, bled the engine,
and fired it up. It started, but we observed an interesting
phenomenon. It looked like air bubbles were being sucked up
through
the bottom of the racor filter, but no fuel was leaking out. We
figure this means that the air is getting in between the filter
and
the tank somewhere (of course - the part of the fuel line most
hidden). Today’s afternoon task is to trace out the fuel line from
under the sink to the filter.
In the meantime, I’ve been trying to find a supplier for the spin-
on
fuel filter adapter for the Perkins 4108. Some posts a few years
ago
mention a website and email address which are no longer in
service.
anyone have a current supplier?
Thanks,
Lance