Engine prob stuck on the canals

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tomdmx

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Hello all,
It happened to me now, engine started fine this morning and after15 or so mins it died on me..I was warming it up so I am alongside in Dormans near Eperney.

Trying to start a few times, it just turned over without catching on at all...
Checked cooling, no probs, checked filters, second filter didnt have a lot of diesel in it..thouh that maybe first stage filter didnt push through the fuel (had some probs with it before but that was solved a few days ago)...not sure how to check if fuel is getting through so I replaced with just a normal inline filter...at the moment turning it over but it seems it is starved of fuel or there is air..or worst still injectors..i tried to turn one but the whole arm is moving...

Edit...after 3hrs of turning over it started for a few mins...died on me again...
 
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tomdmx said:
Hello all,
It happened to me now, engine started fine this morning and after15 or so mins it died on me..I was warming it up so I am alongside in Dormans near Eperney.

Trying to start a few times, it just turned over without catching on at all...
Checked cooling, no probs, checked filters, second filter didnt have a lot of diesel in it..thouh that maybe first stage filter didnt push through the fuel (had some probs with it before but that was solved a few days ago)...not sure how to check if fuel is getting through so I replaced with just a normal inline filter...at the moment turning it over but it seems it is starved of fuel or there is air..or worst still injectors..i tried to turn one but the whole arm is moving so thats a bit dangerous...any ideas on what could be wrong?
Click to expand...

If air has worked itself into the injectors, the fuel system could need bleeding. It's really not a difficult job to do, as long as you have decent access to the engine.
 
The engine is a volvo penta md2b...inthink you bleed tham by turning the injector caps until fuel comes out right? But when I try to do that the arm is moving with the injector bolt...its not been used for a while...
 
Do not touch the injector caps!!!!!
turn water off
Check if fuel is getting to the injectors by loosening the fuel pipes at the injector

First in bleeding is to check that the fuel lift pump is working
Use the priming lever

There is a bleed point on the injection pump as I recall and on the nine fuel filter
Nothing on the injectors
Remember to turn water back on
 
I dont think my engine has a fuel pump..its gravity fed or somethi like that...so not touching the caps, i have a hollow screw above the fuel lines, i loosened that and i could hear some air escaping...should i try and loosen the fuel lines also? Sorry never bled the system on this engine or any other for that matter..
Below the blank bolt There are two bolts on the fuel line...small near the injector and behind it a large one...trying to turn the large one as i cant get to the small one...but there is pressure as i try and turn it...ie bending something pressure not tight pressure..
Found the injector bleed screw on the injector pump..should it be leaking fuel when i undo it?
 
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Just checking, but you are cranking the engine when you crack the nut to bleed are you ?, the fuel doesnt just flow out without the engine turning over.

If you knew this, apologies for stating the obvious
 
The Volvo MD2B is a self bleeding system. That means the injectors are self bleeding only , meaning that you have to get the air out of the system, including the filters.

This is the on line workshop manual.
http://boatinfo.no/lib/volvo/manuals/md1-2-3b.html#/22

I have taken you straight to the fuel venting page, but at the beginning is a plan of the engine.

Your problem is clearly fuel not getting through due to air in the system. You probably have an air leak into the system. Is your tank below the engine level?

This is a simple job to do, and it is really essential you learn how to do it if voyaging far from home. Follow the pipes through from the tank, and work out where the bleeds will be - always at a high point in the filters. Once clear fuel and no air comes from the filters, the self bleeding will do the rest in the injectors. Perhaps a mechanic there could show you this time?. In all likely hood, if its got air in now, it will happen again, especially if the tank is below engine level, so it may be worth carefully tightening any visible unions in the feed from tank to filters.

Don't panic, just approach the problem logically.

Good luck!

TURN COOLING WATER OFF WHILST CRANKING ENGINE, OTHER WISE YOU WILL FILL UP YOUR EXHAUST SYSTEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Thank you for this...didnt realise about the water but its off now...cant see the manual as ut needs flash and im using an ipad...oh well...so i found the bleed bolt in second filter, and bleed bolt on injector pump...i also topped up the second filter with diesel..so will wait for batteries to charge a bit and see if fuel comes from filter bleed bolt then injector pump bleed bolt...
And tank is below engine...in the keel...
 
TopDonkey said:
Just checking, but you are cranking the engine when you crack the nut to bleed are you ?, the fuel doesnt just flow out without the engine turning over.

If you knew this, apologies for stating the obvious
Click to expand...
No probs, yes i am cranking the engine on first cylinder when trying to bleed it
 
tomdmx said:
The engine is a volvo penta md2b...inthink you bleed tham by turning the injector caps until fuel comes out right? But when I try to do that the arm is moving with the injector bolt...its not been used for a while...
Click to expand...

No No No No!!!!!!!

You have to first bleed to the fuel pump by using the lift pump. You may have to pressurise the fuel tank usung a bit of hose in the fuel filler if the primary filter is between the tank and lift pump.

There is a bleed screw on the pump housing.


Once the pump is showing air free fuel then bleed the injector. Do not loosen the caps!!! Just loosen the large pipe nut on the injector side and crank the engine till fuel escapes and then tighten the pipe nuts.


If the engine was running and then stopped it would seem you either have a blocked filter or big air leak maybe at the primary filter seal.

The MD2b does not return spill fuel to the fuel tank but returns it to a throttling union near the fuel pump so air can get recirculated and build up!

You just have to be methodical. Get fuel to the filters...then to HP fuel pump and then to injectors. If lots of pumping of lift pump does nothing then may have to turn engine so cam lobe is off the pump lever. If still nothing the blowing into fuel tank with dinghy pump or strong lungs works for me! Just need a bit of garden hose and rag to seal.
 
Hi Bilgediver..there is no fuel pump or lift pump..the only pump i have is the injector pump...will try and bleed methodically...i changed the primary filter into inline and will try to bleed the secondary...
 
Follow the fuel pipe back from filter, when it dissapears into a space only a tunnel rat could get into, that is black and oily, the lift pump is going to be there :D

Just thought I would mention that I have one of those little vacuum pumps for bleeding brakes clutch and fuel system. 15 squid well spent
 
I cant see the manual but found a parts list which i can view on the ipad so will have a nose around
 
Got the fuel and lift pump (in the black and oily and hard to get to space lol)pumping away for a bit, got diesel coming out of the second filter bolt, but nothing coming out at the injector pump bleed bolt...if i undo it a bit just a air sund as i pump with the lift pump...
 
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