hello everybody...help me get her started again!

[SV THIRD DAY]

I just had my fuel pump rebuilt, cost $700 and it was quite a project pulling her out and getting her back in.  The bitch was the bolt UNDER the starter to the right when looking at the pump.  It required a special alan fitting on the end of a long multi-jointed socket to reach that bastard.  

You can rule out bad fuel by rigging a 5 Gal fuel can in replacement of the fuel tank....and then use your electric fuel pump to flush the NEW good fuel through the system pushing out any of the potential shit fuel.  Then fire her up running off of the 5 Gal fuel can....just a thought.

Let us know if we can help line something up if you need it.

[getlostonpurpose]

well, the mechanic came.  first he loosened the injectors and checked the flow.  all normal.  then he sat there and stared at it for a few.  then he took off for about 15 minutes and came back with a can of american starter fluid.  he pulled the raw water hose off the v-drive and jammed a water hose up there.  then gave it one quick squirt of the starter fluid, turned it over, and it fired right up.  we let it run for about 5 minutes, turned it off, and cranked it right back up without the fluid.  how in the hell?!?  is there that much of a difference between wd40 and starter fluid?  it's the only thing he did differently from what i've been doing for the last two weeks.  i had him leave the can with me!

[Jim S]

Ah, the unexplained mysteries of the world.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Shit....I'll be adding a can of starter fluid to THIRD DAY before we cast off.....that's for sure!

Glad to hear you're back in business Drew, now onto the next "Project".

[BlameItOnBuffett]

Are we talking charcoal starter fluid, or some kind of engine starter fluid?

Thanks

[kevin barber]

Spray can of starting fluid.  AKA Ether.  Available at any automotive or boat store.

[RayNWanda]

A couple of things to consider- If it was injecting fuel into the cylinders but would not start, there may be a compression problem. Diesels rely on heat of compression to ignite the fuel charge. Ether ignites at a much lower temperature than diesel fuel, which is why it works so well starting engines in cold climates. It may have have been making enough temp to light the ether, but not the diesel fuel. It also could have been a little air that you could not get rid of until the engine started on the ether. Do be careful with the ether. You can do a lot of damage to your engine with it. Use as little as you can get by with. I have seen rods bent and heads blown off by folks that thought they needed half the can to get started. Having said that, I keep a can on my boat. I have never needed it, but it is there if I ever do need it. The trick is to use it sparingly.

[wedelstein]

You do know that there are 2 bleed screws on the injection pump. The system must be absolutly clear of air bubbles. Loosen one of the injector feed lines. Use starting fluid spareingly. I little will hemp run the engine while the pump catches. Too much startiing fluid will lock up the engine.

[slokat]

My boat came equipped with an electric fuel prime pump, I don't know much about it yet, but the mechanic that installed my engine said to use it instead of bleeding the injection pump/fuel system.

Don't know much about it, or how it's installed, except that the one time I couldn't get started, flipped the switch for a few seconds until the pressure pump stopped & it started right up after that.