Bleeding fuel system on Beta 30.

[eddystone]

This is by way of anticipating issues as I had to abandon replacing fuel filters as I didn't have a 14mm OE spanner for engine fuel filter. On my previous engine, a VP 2002, I usually had a problem getting the CAV housing to refill with fuel from the tank after changing the filter element. Current setup is the fuel tank is roughly on a level with the engine although the CAV housing is obviously well above the fuel outlet at the bottom of the tank. Couple of questions:

1. Should the lift pump on its own have enough suction to fill the CAV bowl - if not what's the solution?

2. If the lift pump isn't doing anything, apparently one needs to turn the engine over maybe 90 degrees. How? I don't think the Beta has a socket for turning the crankshaft live the 2000 series Volvo Pentas. Churning with the starter seems a bit random as to what position the cylinders end up in; and if so should sea water inlet be open or closed?

 

[earlybird]

Answer to your 2nd question is to put a spanner on the crankshaft pulley nut. Turning rather more than 90 deg. might be best as it's the camshaft you want to reposition.
The lift pump will be slow to fill the filter. Some folks use a hand bulb primer, but I've no experience of such. Bursts on the starter might help but others might have better advice.

 

[DownWest]

Fitting a hand bulb primer makes it a lot easier. Just put it before the first filter. No worry about the lift pump being 'on the cam' and the bulb has a much greater flow rate, so takes a minute or so to bleed the system.

 

[PetiteFleur]

One of the jobs I've been promising myself to but not got round to it yet - Beta 25. It does take a long time to get the fuel through with the hand prime engine fuel pump.

 

[Pagetslady]

the height of the tank doesn't matter as long as the fuel level is well above the filter it should fill itself i think my Beta 35 seems to fill up fairly quickly, unless of course your filter is above the tank top.
Mike

 

[Pete735]

I've got a Beta 20 and the setup is exactly as DownWest says, the job then becomes very easy. Initially I tried using the lift pump but it was hopeless so I added the fuel bulb and have not looked back.

 

[eddystone]

the height of the tank doesn't matter as long as the fuel level is well above the filter it should fill itself i think my Beta 35 seems to fill up fairly quickly, unless of course your filter is above the tank top.
Mike

Well that's an interesting question and I'll have to check but also suggests that it's worth filling the tank to the brim before starting to maximise pressure at the outlet at the bottom of the tank.

 

[wully1]

I’ve seen outboard motor squeezey primer bulbs fitted to diesel systems..

Last time I worked on an engine (I hate working on engines and especially Diesel engines) I fitted a primary CAV type filter with a primer pump built into the housing - worked a treat.

But I will never fit a CAV type filter system again - they are a PITA to assemble without air leaks..tiny air leaks you only discover when the donkey dies..

At the worst possible moment of course.