DIESEL ENGINE HELP

[quartersplash]

I have a Yamar 3jh series engine with a saildrive. It has been acting up lately. Hard to start to very hard to start. Changed fuel filters, bled the injectors. During the same period the engine when I got it started, would only accelerate to maybe 1500 while in neutral, and 800 rpm in gear. Anybody have experience with this problem, please fill me in on what it may be.
Thanks in advance

[Celestialsailor]

Aloha...Perhaps a little more information...Does it idle like before? When you pump the hand pump, does adequate fuel return? Did this start happening at once, after you changed something or was it gradual?

[theonecalledtom]

Does it smoke?
Does it sound like all cylinders are firing?

[boris]

i hate to state the obvouse but did you replace all the filters most yanmars have two

[TimoVilla]

Hi'
Have you checked your starter batteries? Secondly, check your start motor if batteries are ok.
br timo v

[Boomp]

I would check the filters. Esp. drain the bowl, the one that holds water.

[Sailorguy]

Look over all fuel supply hoses and fittings/seals for possible air leaks. I just went through this exercise and found the problem to be a cracked fuel hose and loose connection allow air to enter system..hard starting and loss of power.

[Chief Engineer]

Bleed the fuel system.

If you need the order of performing this let us know.

Does your fuel return to the tank or back to the secondary filter (The small one on the engine)?

[Celestialsailor]

I guess he figured it out

[Badsanta]

throttle wire slipped? Stop lever half pulled? Fuel line, pick up tube plugged?

[quartersplash]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I haven't been able to check email for a few days so just getting back.
I have changed both filters and cleaned the bowl.
I bled the injectors.
batteries are fully charged and turn over plenty fast.
It does run on all cylinders.
I haven't checked the return line yet.
Engine doesn't smoke.
I think that it may be a fuel starvation problem somewhere as it runs good when spray WD40 in the intake to make it run. Once I get it going it runs fine, but in nuetral the throttle will take the rpms up to 1500 and in gear only above idle.
I will check the return line that goes back to the tank.
Thanks again

[r.furborough]

I think Bad Santa hit on it. Try releasing the stop cable at the actuator on the engine. It may be that the outer cable has slipped in it's retainer, probably at the panel end. I had this happen on my 3GM and the symptoms are identical to what you describe.

[quartersplash]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. All good ones, but Badsanta hit on this one. I was able to get to the boat today and the electric stop solenoid return spring was weak or broken. I pulled it to the open position at the engine and hit the starter and it started on the 1st revolution! It also accelerated perfectly in nuetral and in gear just like new....
Thanks all.
Gary Swenson
Archies Way
Bahia De Caraquez, Ecuador