Another Bleeding Dilemna 4.108

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, saltydognl,
Thanks for sharing your information.

[phorvati]

Do you have consistent drops of fuel coming out of injection lines at the injectors, i believe order should be 1,2,4,3? If you do, then bleeding should be all set.
I just went through first time replacing primary and secondary fuel filter as part of winterizing 4-108 westerbeke. I didn't pre-fill filters with fuel, and it didn't take all that much to get the bubbles out from both Injection pump nipples. I tried starting several time for about 20-30 seconds and it wouldn't start until I loosened all 4 Injection line nuts at the injectors. About 30 seconds of cranking is what it took to get fuel to start coming out of those. Then I tightened them and It started.
As Calder says: cleanliness is next to godliness. Change fuel filters before engine dies. Considering that engine died due to dirty fuel, that Injection pump is very sensitive to contaminants. There is a filter screen at the inlet to IP. After you get the cranking RPMs up, and if you still have trouble starting, I would take a look at IP inlet screen, and see how bad things are. Call me crazy, but I carry a spare IP.

[forsailbyowner]

I've always used the 2 micron filters and have the large 1000 racor. Starter test showed 63 amp draw, the starter turned slow and sounded like a blender full of nuts and bolts. 14.7 volts put in 12.3 volts thru. Strangely test said starter was good? I've heard there's a local place for starter work. Not sure of next move but if I can find a pdf viewer for my blackberry will peruse a delco starter fault diagnosis article that I downloaded

[phorvati]

If 63 amp is continuous, that sounds like a lot. Look at starter teeth and perhps flywheel has missing teeth.

[perchance]

The noise could be an indication of failed bearings/bushings. Shiny spots on the armature caused by rubbing on the field windings are a dead giveaway.

[forsailbyowner]

Originally Posted by perchance

The noise could be an indication of failed bearings/bushings. Shiny spots on the armature caused by rubbing on the field windings are a dead giveaway.

You were spot on correct. After being insulted by battery shack who wanted $200 to repair a starter I can buy new for less than that I dissassembled the starter and found:it was very dirty with oil caked dust thick on brushes and armature, the drive end bushing badly worn and the drive completely frozen. Wondered how it worked as long as it did. I found a place where I can order 20 bushings(minimum order) 2 drives and a solenoid for less than $50. I'm done with boot keys $23.65 a day dinghy dock fee so I'm sailing to outside stock island and will land the dinghy at hogfish where I have friends that I can have the parts delivered to.

The 63 amps is well below what the starter should draw which is around a hundred in good shape. I attribute this to the gunk on brushes contact surface. Ill have to admit I'm enjoying doing everything by sail. Brings back my days of purist sailing in my 23 when I would cruise the torugas bahamas and keys with no motor.

[onestepcsy37]

are you certain that your engine shut off control is not hanging up / broken?

[forsailbyowner]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

are you certain that your engine shut off control is not hanging up / broken?

I'm working my way thru the fault diagnosis in the manual for a no start condition as far as I could with what I have on hand. I did check that the cable and lever on the ip worked. Got kinda stuck for the time being on the slow crank issue. Start battery is in good shape with 1.300 specific gravity and 12.75 volts. Starter parts will be ordered tomorrow.

[forsailbyowner]

FINALLY! got the engine started after sailing all the way back to tampa. I had trouble getting the right combination of parts to put the starter back together, After changing fuel filters, lift pump,cleaned air filtering screen, fuel lines, rebuilding starter(brushes, bushings, drive, solenoid, small parts kit) and bleeding bleeding bleeding, still no start, then sprayed with wd40 no fire, then sprayed with silicone spray and finally it fired. Has much more pep than it did i contribute to cleaning dirty air screen. Thanks for everybodies help.