Diesel Bug. Bradwell.

[Chalk-Pop]

Hallo Folk. Not a new member - long time occasional poster and voyeur but email change necessitates new sign in thingy.
Friday night coming into Bradwell we suffered engine drop off and cut out. First time got to the tide gauge. Lifted genoa and sailed inside the intake works looking to anchor just downstream of the subsea cables etc. The engine started again and we almost made the first red can. We lifted the genoa again and backed out on the same route - again to anchor. However on reaching a likely depth the windlass jammed. We started the engine again and hardly rounded the intake works on way into Bradwell. Mrs White called in a pan pan. I managed to lift the top off the windlass and we anchored.
Local Bradwell fishing vessel Sirene (with Bob the skipper we later found out) came and towed us in with assistance on board by a neighbour of ours at Shotley who had heard the pan pan sat in the marina at Bradwell.
All safe and no harm except to our pride.
One I'd changed the secondary filter, & emptied the primary separator there was no way at all to prime the system. I checked inside the tank and there was a leach like black slime at the bottom of the tank. I am guessing this is the fuel / water interface. I appreciate the older threads on diesel bug.
We've left the boat (Firebird) at Bradwell - taxi back to Shotley and a drive home to Lincolnshire.
I appreciate that there are several options for repairs (clean out, complete replacement etc). We can not do it (time) as I'd want the hog. My first call would be Paul Rainbow but his availability is like hen's teeth and he is incognito at the moment...
Please, any suggestions for an independent competent engineer for a Md2030 engine for work at Bradwell? We've been to French Marine at Brightlingsea before. Excellent people. Key for us is to minimise time at Bradwell - for obvious reasons.
Best regards,
Marcus White
PS Massive thanks to Bob on Sirene and Dietma (sp?) from Moondrift, plus of course Dover Coastguard and the alerted RNLI.

 

[xyachtdave]

‘One I'd changed the secondary filter, & emptied the primary separator there was no way at all to prime the system’

Is there not a lift pump adjacent/under the injection pump to prime the filters?

Obviously undo bleed nut on top of fine filter housing and operate lift pump, I’d say 10 mins is normal.

If fuel out put from the lift pump is poor, crank engine slightly and try again, check primary filter for leaks etc.

If you can empty old diesel easily I’d bin it, add new fuel and a bottle of Marine 16.

Sounds like an hours work and you’ll be back in business, not sure you need the expense and hassle of finding an engineer.

 

[Chalk-Pop]

‘One I'd changed the secondary filter, & emptied the primary separator there was no way at all to prime the system’

Is there not a lift pump adjacent/under the injection pump to prime the filters?

Obviously undo bleed nut on top of fine filter housing and operate lift pump, I’d say 10 mins is normal.

If fuel out put from the lift pump is poor, crank engine slightly and try again, check primary filter for leaks etc.

If you can empty old diesel easily I’d bin it, add new fuel and a bottle of Marine 16.

Sounds like an hours work and you’ll be back in business, not sure you need the expense and hassle of finding an engineer.

Thanks Dave,
I was pumping the finger-lever priming pump for an hour at least with the bleed plug loosened. Absolutely nothing. I was determined that if I failed to prime the system it would not have been down to lack of effort or time. It would be down to lack of knowhow or something irreparable. I'm still not 100% sure which but am leaning towards a blockage. I searched this forum (plenty of history of this sort of thing) and YouTube.
We live at least 3 hours from Bradwell. I dare say, with some application, I could strip everything down - if needed (how would I know) - but I run my own business, am massively busy, and would rather be earning my money to pay an expert his money to give me some degree of certainty that when I motor out of Bradwell Creek, I'll make it back to Shotley.
In principle, I don't think that the job is beyond me but I'm nervous that I'll be a) 'missing' something & b) I just have no time.
Thanks for replying, Dave, really appreciate it.

 

[tillergirl]

The 2030 lift pump can be a pain. It might be the engine had stopped with the cam on the lift pump 'up' so it doesn't pump well if at all. Just try 'jabbing' the engine over a little and try the lift pump again. Dave is right, 10 minutes should be sufficient. Is the air vent on the tank clear?

 

[MoodySabre]

Althorne Marine are based in Bradwell. They'll fix it for you. John Rook 07939 100822 or Steve Rook 07904 329236

 

[johnalison]

The 2030 lift pump can be a pain. It might be the engine had stopped with the cam on the lift pump 'up' so it doesn't pump well if at all. Just try 'jabbing' the engine over a little and try the lift pump again. Dave is right, 10 minutes should be sufficient. Is the air vent on the tank clear?

My 2030 lift pump only functions when in the correct position, marked by a dash of yellow paint on the ‘flywheel’ at the front (whatever it’s called), unlike the old 2000 series that works in every position except one.

 

[Chalk-Pop]

My 2030 lift pump only functions when in the correct position, marked by a dash of yellow paint on the ‘flywheel’ at the front (whatever it’s called), unlike the old 2000 series that works in every position except one.

Thanks both of you. I've spoken with John Rook. Seemed a really decent chap. He's going to sort it.
Just what I needed. Many thanks to everyone.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks both of you. I've spoken with John Rook. Seemed a really decent chap. He's going to sort it.
Just what I needed. Many thanks to everyone.

Glad to see you have this organised Marcus. Sorry i couldn't get back to you sooner, but i'm currently out of action awaiting surgery tomorrow. Have emailed you with details.