System bleeding time

[Andrew_Fanner]

Any ideas as to how long this takes? OK, probably related to the length of a bit of string but.

Had to change the drain plug in the filter bowl to satisfy the BSS. The engine was laetr started to move the boat between moorings and stalled/died after about three minutes running. I assume that this means no fuel thus bleed system (there is about 200l of fuel in the tank and the filter bowl is clean) I'm guessing this is the bot where the manual says "loosen bleed screw by about 4 turns and pump unti, air free fuel appears from the vent". Should I expect this to be a few strokes of the pump or fifteen minutes head down in the enigne bay? None of the blub in Mr Volvo's manuals suggests how long the job might be. Ten or so pumps seemed to do nowt.

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.

 

[mainshiptom]

About ten pumps sounds right !

Try engine again And you will know best once engine is running for more then 5-10 minutes.

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[TrueBlue]

Ten strokes? About ten times that IMO. I gave up and cranked the engine until it coughed into life.

An imprecation like "Come along, you stupid machine" (or some such) also helps.

In the end I replaced the remote filter (CAV type) with a hand pump primer type. Works a bit better.

Another trick is to get a bulb type pump (I used to have one on an outboard) and suck some fuel through. Also available from diesel specialists - CAV / Lucas again.

My system holds about 1 1/2L. and the engine pump is not good at sucking air.

For what it's worth.

 

[TonyBrooks]

Not sure about your Volvo, but if its the lever type pump on the side of the engine, it is possible for the engine to stop with the internal lever in the upposition. This reduces the effective stroke of the lift pump quiet considerably. If the engien does stop in this position, flick the starter to make the engine turn about 1 full turn.

I normally have little trouble bleeding teh fuel systems, but its dead boring. As long as you can hear teh air hissing from the bleed screw of if its bubbling (using a trade term - gob on it to see the bubbles) it will eventually start to expell fuel - UNLESS you have an air leak on the suction side.

Expect to pump for at least 30 seconds and often a lot longer.

Tony Brooks

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