Canopus
New Member
By way of background my friend has recently purchsed a 34 foot bilge Moody which has been on shore for about a year.
We have been re-furbishing her and finally got her afloat last week.
Main task was to start the engine which as anticipated was not straight forwards. We had fully charged the batteries at home and then did all the usual checks. Air filter not covered/oil in engine/oil filter (new with no oil in canister so filled with clean engine oil.
Turned engine over and much to our suprise she coughed into life then immediatley stopped. Could not bleed as no fuel getting to lift pump but resolved in the end after bleeding entire system right back to the fuel tank and got engine started. Oil pressure okay at about 45 PSI.
After running at fast idle for about 10 mins there was a sound as if something had broken (a clonk) and a bit of a rattle and then all appeared well but checked the oil pressure guage and there was zero pressure!
Instantly stopped engine and checked for leaks/levels etc and no sign so decided to take a chance and start the engine again and we instantly had oil pressure at about 45 PSI. After running for about 10 mins all seemed well, no noises or anything.
My thoughts are:
1) Air lock in oil system working its way through but have never heard of this before.
2) Oil pump pressure relief valve (is there one?) opened and stuck for a moment.
3) Wild card, do we have the right oil as it could have been winterised and have inhibiting oil in. Will replace to be on safe side but could that cause a problem.
4) Is 45 PSI right tressure
Other items as well.
Ammeter did not seem to be showing a charge. It works as it showed discharge on starting but to be fair we weren't looking at the meter which showing zero so I guess it's possible it had charged the batteries?
Temperature guage not working and disconnected. Temperature sender appears to have two wires comming from it where I would have expected only one.
Sorry lots of questions here!
Any suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks
Geoff
We have been re-furbishing her and finally got her afloat last week.
Main task was to start the engine which as anticipated was not straight forwards. We had fully charged the batteries at home and then did all the usual checks. Air filter not covered/oil in engine/oil filter (new with no oil in canister so filled with clean engine oil.
Turned engine over and much to our suprise she coughed into life then immediatley stopped. Could not bleed as no fuel getting to lift pump but resolved in the end after bleeding entire system right back to the fuel tank and got engine started. Oil pressure okay at about 45 PSI.
After running at fast idle for about 10 mins there was a sound as if something had broken (a clonk) and a bit of a rattle and then all appeared well but checked the oil pressure guage and there was zero pressure!
Instantly stopped engine and checked for leaks/levels etc and no sign so decided to take a chance and start the engine again and we instantly had oil pressure at about 45 PSI. After running for about 10 mins all seemed well, no noises or anything.
My thoughts are:
1) Air lock in oil system working its way through but have never heard of this before.
2) Oil pump pressure relief valve (is there one?) opened and stuck for a moment.
3) Wild card, do we have the right oil as it could have been winterised and have inhibiting oil in. Will replace to be on safe side but could that cause a problem.
4) Is 45 PSI right tressure
Other items as well.
Ammeter did not seem to be showing a charge. It works as it showed discharge on starting but to be fair we weren't looking at the meter which showing zero so I guess it's possible it had charged the batteries?
Temperature guage not working and disconnected. Temperature sender appears to have two wires comming from it where I would have expected only one.
Sorry lots of questions here!
Any suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks
Geoff
