fuel system woes

Phoenix of Hamble

Phoenix of Hamble

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mishapsandmemories.blogspot.com
spent all day today trying to get a Ford Lehman 80Hp that hasn't turned over for 18months running...

A new starter was needed... tick... engine cranking over nice and quickly... no sign of any hesitancy on the very first push of the starter button, so no worries over seizure.

Now the fuel system.... arghh....

Nicely bled through the primary filters, secondary filters, and then the injector pump...

But would the bugger start....

I pulled the injectors, but no sign of any fuel on trying either the lift pump or the starter

Given that the lift pump filled the filters OK, I don't think that's the problem, so suspect the injector pump...

I guess it could be knackered rings, but i'd have thought that she'd at least have a little go at starting in at least one cylinder... but nada.

I'm loath to immediately blame the injector pump, as new ones are eye wateringly expensive.... maybe a leak somewhere?

....as an aside the water pump was also dripping quite badly, so that'll be another job! :(

Should add that she did take a swim 2 years ago, but has been run until thoroughly dry since, and ran happily.

What do you think of my injector pump diagnosis?
 
Phoenix of Hamble said:
spent all day today trying to get a Ford Lehman 80Hp that hasn't turned over for 18months running...

A new starter was needed... tick... engine cranking over nice and quickly... no sign of any hesitancy on the very first push of the starter button, so no worries over seizure.

Now the fuel system.... arghh....

Nicely bled through the primary filters, secondary filters, and then the injector pump...

But would the bugger start....

I pulled the injectors, but no sign of any fuel on trying either the lift pump or the starter

Given that the lift pump filled the filters OK, I don't think that's the problem, so suspect the injector pump...

I guess it could be knackered rings, but i'd have thought that she'd at least have a little go at starting in at least one cylinder... but nada.

I'm loath to immediately blame the injector pump, as new ones are eye wateringly expensive.... maybe a leak somewhere?

....as an aside the water pump was also dripping quite badly, so that'll be another job! :(

Should add that she did take a swim 2 years ago, but has been run until thoroughly dry since, and ran happily.

What do you think of my injector pump diagnosis?
Click to expand...
Lift pump and bleed on the pump, make sure it is pumping to the pump.
Undo the injector pipes on the top of the pump, anything coming out? If not figure out why, are you sure it is full from the lift pump.
Then take stock
S
 
I removed the primary filters and emptied them in order to clean them properly, and the lift pump filled them again properly... the secondary filters after the lift pump flowed air free, clean fuel from the bleed screw using the lift pump, and the same again for the two bleed screws on the injector pump.

Cracking open the unions on top of the injector pump (that connect to the solid injector pipes) showed no fuel coming out at all, either on the lift pump, or cranking it over with the starter...
 
I have a ford 2722 90hp four cylinder engine - I suspect the same? I had exactly the same issue after managing to pull air right through the fuel system after forgetting to bleed the system after a filter change, took me 3 days to get started. The key is this: the fuel injector pump is self priming but only if the fuel is bled properly to it and through to the fuel return non return valve. This has quite a stiff spring and can be hard to prime. My lift pump priming lever seems to be hopeless so I installed an outboard motor rubber fuel hand pump to help pump fuel through. Make sure the secondary and primary filters are full (which I think you have done). Then you need to completely release the fuel return outlet on the side of the injector pump. There is a non-return valve in here which requires quite a bit of fuel pressue to overcome. I couldn't achieve this pressure with the stupid little lever on on the lift pump hence the outboard pump. Once this Union is completely slack you need to really pump hard to overcome the spring and you will see air coming out. Once the fuel runs free, tighten up. When turning over, You should now the see fuel coming from the injector pipes under the rocker cover, but if you haven't slackened these off, give it a try anyway and it should fire anyway. Good luck.
 
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OK... thats a bit of a pain for me, as i've got solid pipe all the way to the first coarse primary filter.... so might just have to accept that if its after the primaries (where i've got flexible hose, so an easier install), that it'll be a little tougher to 'pull' fuel through, rather than push it!... I assume from your post that the lift pump will pass fuel through without being pumped itself?
 
Had something similar when I ran the engine dry. There was some kind of airlock in the injector pump. Took an engineer to sort it but only because I never touch injector pumps. He found a bleed screw I didn't know was there.
An outboard-type squeeze pump before the first filter makes all this so much easier.
 
oldvarnish said:
Had something similar when I ran the engine dry. There was some kind of airlock in the injector pump. Took an engineer to sort it but only because I never touch injector pumps. He found a bleed screw I didn't know was there.
An outboard-type squeeze pump before the first filter makes all this so much easier.
Click to expand...
There's a rather selfish satisfaction in knowing i'm not the only one who has sat hunched over an engine fuel system cursing quietly.... :D
 
A different tack.....

Check the engine stop cable is fully home. Then also ensure the rack in the injector pump is moving. Sounds like the injector pump is stuck in the 'engine stop' position.
 
If you do find its the injection pump, send it off for refurb. They are totally mechanical and can be totally refurbed for about £400. I think Lancing marine may offer the refurb route with a turnaround in a couple of weeks.
 
robmcg said:
If you do find its the injection pump, send it off for refurb. They are totally mechanical and can be totally refurbed for about £400. I think Lancing marine may offer the refurb route with a turnaround in a couple of weeks.
Click to expand...
Diesco in Ipswich
if you do use them you might remind David he still owes FMYC £50 in sponsorship he has forgot about despite a few reminders. Diesco have had good advertising from us too
 
Phoenix of Hamble said:
The guy in the yard suggested the rack might be stuck too.... how do you go about freeing it up?
Click to expand...
Well that was a fun couple of hours googling and youtubing.... I now know more about injector pumps than I did before.... What did become apparent was watching videos of engines being turned over with the starter, that there shoud be a good 'blob' of fuel ejected from each port on top of the pump as it cycles... and I didn't get that,.. so its definitely either an air lock still, or the pump isn't cycling properly.... you keep on learning!
 
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