Is it possible the fule filter too old cause engine not start?

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Boater On Thames

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My port side engine Volvo TAMD61A won't start today. It was fine yesterday. It's cranking, but just won't start. Checked batteries okay, air intakes okay, oil and coolant okay, seacocks okay, fuel almost full. The only thing I noticed is the two inline fuel filter last replacement was on 19/06/2008! The starboard fule filter changed on 19/06/2018. So, I suspect the 2008 filters might be the problem. I just ordered two to replace it in the next few days. What do you think? Thanks.
 
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Sounds like the injection pump is in the stop position . Check the stop solenoid rod is fully down .

many years ago I travelled miles to a non starter to find owner had left the flybridge ignition key in the stop position , he was trying to start it from the lower helm .
The first ignition barrels were ridiculous design in that they didn’t spring back after stopping the engine .
 
Hi Scala. Yes. I just changed oil and oil filter only. And saw the starboard inline fuel filter changed on 19/06/2018 (5 month before I bought her) so I think the port side should be the same. Until today I crawl in to the other side in depth to the engine room and had a close look. Found it was 2008!!

Anyway, I also ordered 4 air filter and two more fuel pre filter. I am going to change them all.
 
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Checked solenoid position normal. By the way I just changed my port side solenoid yesterday. Both sides solenoid working good now.

I also suspect the injection pump. But don't know how to verify it.
 
Lucas Gan said:
Checked solenoid position normal. By the way I just changed my port side solenoid yesterday. Both sides solenoid working good now.

I also suspect the injection pump. But don't know how to verify it.
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Can’t see it , is the priming pump working both by hand and when you crank as that model of pump won’t suck on its own unlike a Bosch rotary .
 
Not likely. I cranked many times, it should be clear if there is any air grap or babble.

The fuel pre filter just 50cm hose connected to the engine. There is a button at the engine fuel input point, I pressed it has no bubble or air can see or feel. And can't found any pipe or fitting leak. So I think no air it fuel system.
 
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I was thinking maybe the guy who changed them 4 filters together and written a wrong year on two which all on the starboard engine. But after compared the hand writing. Found the starboard engine fuel filter written by different people. So I think it really just 10 years older than the port side filter!
 
They will both have been changed 19/6/18 as already said to much coincidence ,the owner has had someone change them but missed the date ,so owner has written date in missing the 1 out,hence the different handwriting.
 
Okay. That make senses. I will change them all, anyway. Just checked the manual said I need to change them all filters once each year even if the operation time according to the schedule has not been reached.

Just hoping not the injection pump problem!
 
Lucas Gan said:
Checked solenoid position normal. By the way I just changed my port side solenoid yesterday. Both sides solenoid working good now.

I also suspect the injection pump. But don't know how to verify it.
Click to expand...

I’d be double checking the stop solenoid. Disconnect it from the lever....see if the engine starts.
 
Checked few times already. I hand pull and push it to make sure it is back to the right position. But still won't start even cranked many times. Feel like no fuel into the engine.
 
I don't know your engine, but if you think there's no fuel getting to it, why not slightly crack open all the injector pipes, one by one, at the pump end, and see if any diesel appears when you crank the engine over. Put a piece of kitchen roll around it to prevent it spraying everywhere.
 
It’s a 61 a simple engine , they dont start very well if there is air in the fuel pipes from the pump to the injetors .

slacken all the pipes and crank the engine , fuel will spurt out after it’s been cranked but not necessarily straight away , sometime you also have to prime the hand pump at the same time .

The lift pump is in two parts , one side is run off the camshaft which takes care of priming the pump while engine is running .

The push hand prime is for initial fuel introduction and when changing the filters .

I once had a pair of 62s same engine , engine would only run when hand pump was being primed , turned out the engine side of the pump had failed due to corroded inlet and outlet valves , a refurb at a Bosch agent sorted this .

It was a difficult day when it failed as I’d motored on one engine for about 10 miles , when I moored up the wife had to stand by the engine priming the system while I used both engines to motor up.
 
Thank you so much Paul. Very good details guidance. I will try it again. This morning I losen the bleeding point at fuel filter which fuel running smoothly out. Then try to lose the screws on the injector pipe but they are all too tight and I am not dare to use more force. I will try it again later by spay some WD-40.
 
Thanks everyone. The engine started. It was a air locked in the injection pipes. I apply some WD-40 and use a bigger wrench finally lossen the farest one, cranked and it stared. Then I stopped the engine and crawl in the engine room see a few drops fuel around that injector screw nut. Now all back to normal. Many thanks.
 
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Problem again. After about half hour running good. The engine stopped and won't start again! Any idea what causes this? Maybe I just wait for the fuel filters delivery and change them all see if that can solve it.
 
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