[Public-list] Fwd: Engine running Problem

[brooks.glenn at comcast.net]

Hi Ralph,

Same thing happened to me on my fishing boat in Alaska years ago.  Same symptoms as you describe, including tearing  every part of the fuel system apart until  the fuel tank was the last thing left to replace...

Check the pickup tube inside your fuel tank. Probably right near the top of the tank.   It may be corroded and broken off. Or broken from vibration and metal fatigue...  Hence you can only run the boat with a partially full tank, leaving enough fuel to syphon up into the remaining part of the tube.  After driving around for a while under power the fuel level drops below the now short/broken end of the tube, hence your engine dies, after a few sputters, of fuel starvation.  It likely will start again when the boat stops and adjusts to a level keel.  Once underway the stern drags down a bit and the engine  eventually breaks siphon in the tank when the fuel level drops to low, or heels the wrong way...  

Since the mid 60's, pick up tubes are usually always installed from the top of the tank down to just above the bottom of the tank-- old CG safety thing to prevent gas from leaking out of the bottom of the tank into the bilge from defective fittings..  the tube is likely 1/4" copper or steel tube soldered into a some kind of removable lid  on the top of the tank.  Just leave the old piece in the tank and install a new one.  It will be good for 25 years or so...


These pick up tubes are usually an easy fix, if you can reach your fuel tank.  BTW, Is your tank under the cockpit deck??   If so, cut a nice little 21" opening into my cockpit floor centered 6" behind the forward cockpit bulkhead and deck it over with a removable flat hatch of 24" X 1/2" plywood. If you epoxy a 1/2" double layer bottom piece to hold the hatch in place,  you'll have as much access you need to do everything you always wanted at the back end of the engine....  

regards

gpb

S/V Dolce 
of the Pacific 
--
Glenn Brooks
Geographic Information Officer
Global Humanitarian Data Center Project
Northwest Response Team

A global humanitarian GIS network affiliated with the 
Marc Lindenberg Center for Humanitarian Action
Daniel J. Evan's School of Public Affairs
University of Washington
Box 353055,
Seattle, WA 98195-3055

http://students.washington.edu/jmbrooks/nwrt
http://depts.washington.edu/mlcenter/

cell:  206-790-8711

"Putting Information Into Action for Relief and Development"

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: George Dinwiddie <gdinwiddie at alberg30.org>
> RReitz6289 at aol.com wrote:
> > Could you please put this message for help out on the list to all 
> > Albergers that belong to our club. I need help.
> > Thankyou
> > Ralph Reitz
> > 
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Subject: Engine running Problem
> > From: RReitz6289 at aol.com
> > Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 09:14:35 EDT
> > To: Public-list at Alberg30.org
> > CC: Capnreitz at aol.com
> > 
> > 
> > Hi everyone,
> > I have Alberg 30 #457 and sail out of Sea Bright New Jersey. Last year I 
> > had the boats Atomic 4 completely rebuilt by Moyer Marine. It has an 
> > electric fuel pump, electronic ignition, and all new plugs, wires, etc.
> > My problem is that the engine cuts out after about an hour of running, I 
> > dropped the anchor and sat for about 20 minutes after which it started 
> > only to run for about ten minutes and cut out again. I was in a snaky 
> > part of the Navesink river, dropped the hook and called Sea Tow. After I 
> > got back into my slip the engine started again.
> > This is the second time it has happened, after the first time I checked 
> > the fuel intake from the gas tank, replaced the two inline fuel filters 
> > and looked forward to some sailing. I need the engine the navigate the 
> > narrow channel and pass under two bridges to get out to open water.
> > Does anyone have ANY ideas what my problem might be?
> > The next step I intend to take is to run it under load at the dock, when 
> > it cuts out spray starter fluid into the flame arrester to try to get it 
> > started and keep it running. This will give me a hint as to weather the 
> > problem is fuel or an electrical breakdown.
> > Again, ANY ideas.
> > Ralph Reitz
> > Dances With Waves #457
> 
> 
> -- 
>   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>    When I remember bygone days                         George Dinwiddie
>    I think how evening follows morn;            gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
>    So many I loved were not yet dead,           http://www.Alberg30.org
>    So many I love were not yet born.
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> 
> 
> 
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