Hey shipmates, I did have an account here before, but forgot the login for my old
email. I'll update my new profile when I have time.
So, my vessel is a 36'
steel Bruce Roberts Spray, junk rigged schooner, fitted with a 1982 (I think) BMC
diesel, thanks to various problems I inherited from previous owners, I was forced to call in a tow from the coast guard, and am now at a
mooring which I must leave at the end of the month. The
engine sat idle for a year, and I was not ready to set sail, and she still wasn't running when I was forced to leave old anchorage to escape approaching storm. I had her running 10 months ago, but bust a
fuel line moving her initially.
Anyway, due to losing both anchors in the coast guard
rescue, I shall have no
money next month either.
Messures I have taken so far are to clean
fuel tank,
lift pump and change
fuel filters to help with
diesel bug issue (bug treatment costs €50 here in
canaries, so not an option currently). She turns over via starter
motor okay now, but only shows the barest sign of wanting to start even with wd40. I want to avoid easy-start, which I can't afford anyway -
food budget 50 cents a day this month, so 0 means 0.
The spring in the main filter non-return valve was completely f**ked, so I replaced it with a spring from a biro, works ok now. Fuel system bled multiple times.
I am
cleaning the air filter today, though admittedly I don't know if that was the issue, as didn't try turninh her over without it - starter
battery hooked up to
solar panel today. On that note she turns over with as little as 12.35v in my 75ah starter
battery.
I'm not sure if I have an issue with the
injector pump - I was able to bleed air out of high pressure lines, but once the bubbles cleared there seemed to be only a drop of fuel coming through every 2-4000 revolutions or so (4-8 seconds of starter turning).
I have a reasonable selection of basic tools and supplies to complete the job, but neither
money or failure is an option. Any ideas?
Cheers
Edit - high pressure lines themselves were a little rusty, as I removed them and did not replace them while waiting on
parts to fabricate new
injector pump return line, because I thought they were stainless, could be rust inside. Should I use phosphoric acid for
cleaning maybe?
The 4 screws on injector
pump end plate have had the non-tamper fitting removed - could this have also contributed to the original low pressure problem? I had assumed that was caused by the crack in fuel line, that I didn't spot till it finally went.