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Colin K

Colin K

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Hello,
Hope you are all having a great Easter. We had our first family trip which was a great success. Even the newly installed Wifi booster worked.
However we go to our destination and my port side engine was "hunting". Think that is what you call it on tickover, never stalling but bouncing from 800 rpm up to 1500 on tickover. Tank was low at 1/4 full. Then,manouvering into the easy berth at the Tide Mill on the Deben she was a pig to get out of forward into neutral (v v special ) but we made it.
Had a great blast home and she made 23 kts with all of us on board full water and my daughters make up bag. Both engines reaching 3600 rpm and sweet.
Got into our marina in Ipswich and again she was a bugger to get the port engine out of forward into neutral. V v v v special as i have to reverse and juggle into my berth but made it. Ticking over on the berth the port engine was "hunting" even worse. I am hoping that the lumpy engine is the cause of my hard gear selection? Any experts out there with an opinion? We drained off the port engine filter and there was a good half pint of water/sludge in there but still is lumpy afer I had done that.

Cheers, Colin.
 
Do you have electronic controls.
Sounds similar to when I had some damp get into the control box, got condensation on the board and led to some weird behavior like that.
Just had to dry it out and all fine after that.
 
Hello,
Thanks for the reply, i dont think so the morse controls go into red coated cables which I think are manual but will check again tomorrow cheers. Engines have only done 600 odd hours so I dont think its anything major. Will top up my tank as I notice that it is about level with the engines as it is and will change the filters as a matter of course. Fingers crossed.

Cheers, Colin.
 
In that case, then I think it is possible your engine symptoms could have prevented you going out of gear, if your engine is revving at 1500, then there could be too much pressure of the clutch for it to disengage.

Hopefully one of the experts will be along in a bit with a proper diagnosis.

Good Luck.
 
Hello,
Engines are TAMD 40 a's. They are cycling"hunting" from tickover to 1500 ish and I am hoping its this problem thats stopping the gear change?
On board for a couple of days at the end of the week so will drain the tank,remove the Racor filter for a good clean out. Change both filters along the way I guess. Fingers crossed as we have a lot of miles planned for the Summer and SHWBO is keen.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,
 
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I have the same engines. Check that it's not sucking air somewhere in the fuel circuit.

Good luck.

Cheers Paul
 
Hello,
Well rubbish day on my port hand engine. Changed the primary filter which is a Racor that was mucky and had a fair but of water in the bottom of the bowl which ran off. Changed the secondary filter which is a screw on at the side of the engine. Turning this upside down and draining it the fuel in there looked clean. I also took off the top of the lift pump and checked the little filter there and it was clean (and a bugger to get back) Also changed the air filter which was mucky. Finally I realised that you can run each engine off either tank so switched it so my lumpy one ran off the good engine tank.

Sadly I failed she still hunts on tick over, as soon as I rev her with the morse in Neutral to over say 1000 rpm she settles down and sound smooth and sweet but of course too fast a tickover to get her into gear.

I am wondering if she simply needs bleeding?
Any authorities out there have any suggestions?

Cheers, Colin.
 
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I think your injection pump is the Bosch VE distributor type.

If you have had water inside it it could be the flyweights have got a bit rusty on the pivots and are not moving freely, and then jerk to the correct position as the revs increase. Thus your engines starts to overspeed, the weights then engage and bring the speed back down, but their stickiness is causing the hunting. With the engine under load overspeeding is less likely, but some hunting within a smaller range might still be apparent if the weights are sticking.

This explains the operation ...

http://mebonty.monobasin.net/vepump.html

If you google Bosch Distributor Injection Pump various manuals and references come up. BUT do not dismantle the pump unless you are fully equipped to rebuild it.

Taking it off is not so difficult, but mark the precise position of the drive shaft relative to the casing as you remove it and do not allow the engine to rotate whilst it is removed. If your not sure get someone in who is.

Bit of a drive I appreciate, but Poole Diesel are highly recommended, that said these pumps are common on truck engines so a local truck diesel specialist should be able to help.
 
Thanks for the info the sun is out here in Ipswich so I am going onto the fore deck with a coffee to read through it. I think I have tried everything in my capabillities. Filters, lift pump filter, air filter, feeding off the other engine tank, and finally prayer. And now twice the engine has not shut off straight away when I turned the key I guess thats the shut off solenoid on top of the pump?
Have a call into a diesel engineer.

Thanks for your help. Colin.
 
When setting up fuel pumps and injectors we used to use Shell Fuses calibration fluid. This I recall was more oily than diesel. From what you describe suggests internal contamination of the fuel pump - sticking governor, now the solenoid.

This stuff, if it is still available, might help free things up, but also you might find a proprietary fuel system cleaner will help.

Then you need to get the last vestiges of crud and in particular water out of the fuel system and tanks.
 
Hello,
I really appreciate your help. I have the feeling that me investigating this rough tick over problem is a god send as I think I was close to a major breakdown (mechanically of course ) tonight I decided to bite the bullet and take off the injector pump and take it home for servicing. I have removed the six diesel feed pipes to the injectors and the banjo feed from the secondary filter. Still I cannot move the pump to change the timing and even take it off. Aaaaaah. Even looked for another bolt. Is ther more than 3? Seems stuck on the spline so tomorrow will take off the water pump assembly and look from the other end of it? Thinking on my feet now!! Seems like the diesel pump is stuck to the drive but I thought that was lubricated by engine oil? And all the ones I have taken off in the past have been quite free.
So thanks for your help and I will continue tomorrow.
Cheers, Col.
 
superheat6k said:
When setting up fuel pumps and injectors we used to use Shell Fuses calibration fluid. This I recall was more oily than diesel. From what you describe suggests internal contamination of the fuel pump - sticking governor, now the solenoid.

This stuff, if it is still available, might help free things up, but also you might find a proprietary fuel system cleaner will help.

Then you need to get the last vestiges of crud and in particular water out of the fuel system and tanks.
Click to expand...


Ah you read my mind I have pumped the tank with diesel bug goo and water disolver. Now I thoight at one point that it improved but hey wanting to get out to sea with junior next weekend perhaps I am clutching at straws ha ha
 
Colin K said:
Hello,
I really appreciate your help. I have the feeling that me investigating this rough tick over problem is a god send as I think I was close to a major breakdown (mechanically of course ) tonight I decided to bite the bullet and take off the injector pump and take it home for servicing. I have removed the six diesel feed pipes to the injectors and the banjo feed from the secondary filter. Still I cannot move the pump to change the timing and even take it off. Aaaaaah. Even looked for another bolt. Is ther more than 3? Seems stuck on the spline so tomorrow will take off the water pump assembly and look from the other end of it? Thinking on my feet now!! Seems like the diesel pump is stuck to the drive but I thought that was lubricated by engine oil? And all the ones I have taken off in the past have been quite free.
So thanks for your help and I will continue tomorrow.
Cheers, Col.
Click to expand...

Take seawater pump off and remove the four bolts from the flange, it should then come off. There's also a bracket under pump attached near pipes.
 
aquapower said:
Take seawater pump off and remove the four bolts from the flange, it should then come off. There's also a bracket under pump attached near pipes.
Click to expand...


Blimey did not realise there were any bolts the pump side good job I did not get the crow bar out!
Yes found the cable bracket.
Thanks for your help tools back out.

Cheers, Colin.
 
aquapower said:
Take seawater pump off and remove the four bolts from the flange, it should then come off. There's also a bracket under pump attached near pipes.
Click to expand...


Hello,
You are a star thanks, Pumps off found the four bolts and eventually got the cable clamp off.

Diesel pump is in the tool box and I have been quoted £90 plus parts to do a test and replace any bits.sounds pretty reasonable.

Thanks all for your help I might get to sea next weekend after all.

Cheers, Colin.
 
Colin K said:
Hello,
You are a star thanks, Pumps off found the four bolts and eventually got the cable clamp off.

Diesel pump is in the tool box and I have been quoted £90 plus parts to do a test and replace any bits.sounds pretty reasonable.

Thanks all for your help I might get to sea next weekend after all.

Cheers, Colin.
Click to expand...
Feedback on findings please.
 
superheat6k said:
Feedback on findings please.
Click to expand...

Hello,
Yep absolutely, I am taking it into the Bosch dealer here in Coventry on Monday morning and they turn it around in 24 hrs. They do a full written report so will post it. To be honest chap I think you will have it in a nutshell I recon sticking counter weights. I think I ran the tank too low, the filters caught the crud but some water got through.
I am sat here in the comfort of my lounge working out how I can fit a fuel polishing system on board. I have some basic bits kicking around so hope to do it with what I have. Still sore from laying on top of the engine for 8 hrs so I need a sacrificial cushion or grow some Moobs.
Help from the forum here made all the difference some good guys out there. Thanks.

All the best, Colin.
 
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