Broken down : help !

W

watson1959

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 May 2011
Messages
6,329
Location
Reading
Visit site
Engine has died at shiplake lock.

Turns fine ..... Not firing..... Just serviced too ... Grrrrr...

Any suggestions apart from beer?

I'm not a mechanic :-)
 
how long had you been running ? If a short time, then possible air lock to the tank(s) or supply side.

What was the manner of dying ? On tickover, at half throttle ? Erratic running before ceasing, or sudden death. Any smoke ? Any oil pressure warning lights or sounds?

Assuming new fuel filters, could the servicing have strirred up sediment thus blocking the filters ?

Have you inspected / changed the fuel filters ?


EDIT Do you have a fuel shutoff control, or decompressor which could have been inadvertently activated ?


I think the emphasis is on fuel starvation in the first instance.
 
sarabande said:
how long had you been running ? If a short time, then possible air lock to the tank(s) or supply side.

What was the manner of dying ? On tickover, at half throttle ? Erratic running before ceasing, or sudden death. Any smoke ? Any oil pressure warning lights or sounds?

Assuming new fuel filters, could the servicing have strirred up sediment thus blocking the filters ?

Have you inspected / changed the fuel filters ?


EDIT Do you have a fuel shutoff control, or decompressor which could have been inadvertently activated ?


I think the emphasis is on fuel starvation in the first instance.
Click to expand...

Yes: new fuel lines during the service but was running perfectly for four hours today. As we approached shiplake and I put her in neutral it just died... Zero indication of prior problems.

Level in fuel Pre- filter has dropped 2-3 cms so just waiting for SWMBO to buy diesel to bring to us and see if topic works.
 
Diesel engine? Usually it's fuel related, blocked filter, air in fuel, run out of fuel, fuel cock closed.

On my engine I'd firstly loosen a couple of the injector pipes (at the injector end) and turn her over a couple of times to see if fuel is getting through.
 
supply line from tank may be blocked. If the top up doesn't work, try blowing back into the tank to dislodge any blocking agent.

Is the tank vent clear, or full of Thames spiders ?
 
If the river rescue man has a go at getting her going again, the bits I changed were (if he wants to know..):

Primary fuel filter element. Filter primed. Both seals renewed.
Secondary fuel filter spin on canister, again primed. Both seals renewed.
Fuel hose down stream of shutoff valve to primary filter, and from primary filter to electric fuel pump.
Both fittings on the primary fuel filter.
Raw water impeller.
Oil and filter.

Have you tried exercising that big red button you spoke of when you had a problem last time? (yes, stupid question, I know.. :)

Please let me know when you find out whats wrong - I'm really worried it was something I did!!

Hope you get home soon..
 
rosssavage said:
If the river rescue man has a go at getting her going again, the bits I changed were (if he wants to know..):

Primary fuel filter element. Filter primed. Both seals renewed.
Secondary fuel filter spin on canister, again primed. Both seals renewed.
Fuel hose down stream of shutoff valve to primary filter, and from primary filter to electric fuel pump.
Both fittings on the primary fuel filter.
Raw water impeller.
Oil and filter.

Have you tried exercising that big red button you spoke of when you had a problem last time? (yes, stupid question, I know.. :)

Please let me know when you find out whats wrong - I'm really worried it was something I did!!

Hope you get home soon..
Click to expand...

REALLY appreciate all the calls and pms but phone dying soon!

As I keep topping up the prefilter with diesel the level just drops again. Can't see leaks anywhere . Is this a clue?
 
Have you tried bleeding the system from the lift pump to the injector pump? Forget about what comes before that for now. just get clean fuel to the lift pump ( 2 litre bottle and some clear hose? ) and make sure that the system is air free from there. If it runs then you can work out what's gone wrong before the lift pump.
 
Quite possibly, but to what I don't know!

I assume there's no leak in the system anywhere? Any diesel in the bilges? Have you taken off the small panel under the aft bench seat and poked your head in there?

You could try running your (dry) hand along the new fuel hose from end to end and check there's no diesel leaking from a damaged bit.

Check all the unions / joints I disturbed for evidence of a fuel leak (use a dry finger to trace around the joint and check for diesel residue on your finger afterwards..).

Perplexing... :(
 
rosssavage said:
Quite possibly, but to what I don't know!

I assume there's no leak in the system anywhere? Any diesel in the bilges? Have you taken off the small panel under the aft bench seat and poked your head in there?

You could try running your (dry) hand along the new fuel hose from end to end and check there's no diesel leaking from a damaged bit.

Check all the unions / joints I disturbed for evidence of a fuel leak (use a dry finger to trace around the joint and check for diesel residue on your finger afterwards..).

Perplexing... :(
Click to expand...

Nope no leaks: all bone dry.


Ooooo oooo oo : disengaged gear.. Gave extra revs..... She's started! Will leave running a while before I do anything
 
engine stop ? Why does the donk run for four hours, die, start again, run for four minutes, die. Fuel starvation through blockage (no leaks detected) or the tank is vacuum blocked.


W - can you describe how the engine dies pls ? Is it suddenly - as in being switched off by key - or gradually as running out of fuel ?
 
sarabande said:
engine stop ? Why does the donk run for four hours, die, start again, run for four minutes, die. Fuel starvation through blockage (no leaks detected) or the tank is vacuum blocked.


W - can you describe how the engine dies pls ? Is it suddenly - as in being switched off by key - or gradually as running out of fuel ?
Click to expand...

No bloomin' idea!

It first died when I put her into neutral when mooring at Shiplake: just died like when the key is switched-off.

When I did get it to fire that one time: it ran for a couple of minutes then just 'faded-out' like a fuel problem.

I managed to get it to 'fire' a couple of times more but it never caught properly.

All I need to do now is find someone in the Reading area who knows how to use a mallet and chisel to fix it ......as you can see I am clueless :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top