Diesel fuel solenoid valve for Farymann 18W430 (Panda 4 Generator)

[geoff3nebel]

My generator turns but won't fire. I believe the first thing to check is the fuel solenoid valve. Must I buy a Farymann one or are solenoid valves generic items that can be bought off the shelf from a motor factor?
Does anyone have any ideas why the engine won't fire?
Diesels are, after all, pretty basic lumps, and a single cylinder genset should be dead easy to fix.

 

[WindermereColvic]

First thing to check is the fuel system, so if the stop solenoid is known to be dodgy, could be worth checking. Did the engine die whilst running or was it ok last time but refuses to start now? Could also be an air lock in the fuel somewhere, so bleed the system. This will also confirm if any fuel is getting to the injector, so will confirm if the stop solenoid is stuck. To bleed, start nearest the tank, so at the filter probably, and work your way towards the injector. Im not sure (and im sure someone will say) if the stop solenoid is up or downstream of the high pressure pump, but if you see no fuel ‘up’ stream of it, then it could well be at fault. If its ‘up’ stream you will have to bleed the injector to see if you have fuel there, slacken the injector nut and turn the engine over, you should see spurts of fuel. Might also be worth giving it a gentle tap with a hammer, you should be able to find it if you follow the fuel line to the high pressure pump, and look for a wire disappearing into something there. Hope you get sorted, Matt

 

[npf1]

Assuming that you have narrowed it down to the fuel solenoid (ie fuel pump is pushing fuel to the solenoid inlet, air intake not blocked etc) ....

I had a similar prob with my Panda gen a few years back. After using a meter to establish that voltage was present at the solenoid’s coil and that it was drawing current (about 1 to 1.5A, if I recall correctly), I deducted that the coil was functioning OK and it was the mechanical plunger/valve that was stuck. It freed up by giving a few gentle taps with a small hammer to the body/seat of the valve whilst applying voltage to the coil. The problem hasn’t occurred since.

If that doesn’t work, there’s a company in Bristol that supplies all sorts of solenoid valves so might have a suitable replacement. They’ve got a good website so you should be able to google it. But do check the price with Panda first.

Oh … If there is no power to the coil, have a look at the circuit diagram for your gen to see if there’s a relay before the solenoid valve. If so, suspect that. I seem to recall that there is on mine, but it is a different model to yours.

BTW – I’ve always found Panda tech guys very helpful

 

[samwestwood]

Simple answer if its the solenoid you should be able to get one off the shelf at a decent motorfactor.

 

[geoff3nebel]

thanks, I'll follow your ideas through and if there's till no joy I'll talk to Panda's techy guys