High pressure pump probs.

[jekyl]

I have just spent $2200 having a fuel problem diagnosed and repaired on one of my HPDI 200'S.
After much trial and error I was briefed by A1 outboards on THT on what to check and we eventually found salt crystals in the regulator side of the High Pressure Pump.

Anyone had this issue or suggestions as to how it may have happened?

Unfortunately it happened on day 2 of our local 5 day tournament and prohibited me from entering another The Port Hinchinbrook Tournament.

I guess there is alway s next year. We had high hopes and had raised 5 blacks and tagged one on day one .....so it was a real bummer to have to pull out. Happy to know my grady fishes well tho' and that we made the 1.5 hour journey to the grounds first alongside a 56ft (i think ) Viking!

We had 2 fishing this years comp as well as a 40 ft Cabo express.

The high Aussie dollar has definitely helped sales of US boats into Aussie.

 

[jekyl]

So I guess I'm the only "lucky' guy to have had salt crystals inside the High pressure fuel pump?

 

[JUST-IN-TIME]

So I guess I'm the only "lucky' guy to have had salt crystals inside the High pressure fuel pump?

who knows

cauze im looking into a boat that might have this now

u got water in the fuel thats why it happened

 

[catch22]

I've heard of a white or yellow powder like residue being found on some of the motor's internal filters, but not "salt crystals".

Just-in-time, you say "water in the fuel", and I agree. Normally, water in your fuel tank comes either from the source, (marina, gas station) or condensation in the boats fuel tank.... but are we talking "salt water" here?

Jekyl... assuming you have spin-on pre-filters for each motor, are they Yamaha or Racor? If they're regular Yamaha's, I'd suggest replacing them with Racor's, with the clear bowl. You can drain them regularly.
Model B32013 comes with the bowl, and will fit the Yamaha mount, S3213 is the replacement element.

 

[JUST-IN-TIME]

last time i checked the land of OZ is surrounded by salt water 8)

 

[catch22]

last time i checked the land of OZ is surrounded by salt water 8)

Again.... water in fuel tanks usually comes from condensation, (air space). Are you suggesting salt water may be getting in around fuel fill or what? Spare us the sarcasim... ok?

 

[jekyl]

Yes the mechanc said definitely salt crystals. I have racors which i installed approx. 4 months ago. Before that they where yamaha's which i had to dispose of as they were well used.
As the boat had not been used a lot In the US there was certainly fresh water in the tanks but how the salt got in I don't have any ideas and that is why I am asking for suggestions.
I purchased the boat in January 08 and have replaced the 10 micron filters 3 times since then in an effort to get clean fuel.
The interesting thing is the mechanic feels quite certain that the other motor's pump does not have the problem and yet they feed of the same tank.

 

[JUST-IN-TIME]

bad gas cap would put salt water in the tanks
no loop in vent line
somebody did not tighten the gas cap

usually sweating does not do that much
heck if the boat traveled by boat and rained

 

[jekyl]

I have just received a reply from A1 Outboards On THT.An extremely useful and knowledgeable guy.
He sent a link to an article on filters ,which basically says even Racors which i have, won't stop all water getting thru'. Especially if the filter is full or there is alot of water. Which i believe I had when I first received my boat in Jan this year.
I have replaced my filters and elements several times this year and it is possible this water (with salt) has got thru into the High Pressure pump then.
The thread is on THT under A1 Outboards 200 hpdi Fuel Probs.
Sorry but I'm not proficient enough with P.C.'s to attach the link here.
It still begs the question tho' how does that much salt water get into a tank?

 

[JUST-IN-TIME]

usally bad gas caps
or somebody forgot to fully tighten the gas caps
vent line has no loop in it

 

[jekyl]

What to do? We tried to go out today but the same motor will not pull above 3300rpm's.
I had already done a water test with the mechanic only 2 weeks ago and it checked out fine . Pulled smoothly all the way up to 5200rpm exactly the same as the other mtr.
Right from the start today it would not rev. Where to next? I have asked the question on THT as well to A1 Outboards but am interested if any of you mechanically minded folks have other suggestions. regards and thanks OZ.

 

[JUST-IN-TIME]

dump the water separator out and look at it
u running same tanks on both engines?

 

[jekyl]

If that is the VST then it has already been cleaned, also the o2 sensor , the primary fuel pump has had it's membrane replaced and checked as well.
The intermitent nature of the problem now is confusing.
Is it possibly an electrical problem????

 

[JUST-IN-TIME]

no u should have water seperators in the hull
it might be electrical
might need to look at all the grounds

 

[jekyl]

where and what are the water separators. both motors always run off the same tank at the same time. There is the tap at both aft corners near the racors. are there any other filters on the boat that I wouldn't know about?
Thanks for the assistance, greatly appreciated.

 

[JUST-IN-TIME]

racors are the seperators

so no water in them??

 

[jekyl]

There is often a little ie. less than 1/2 teaspoon of water , in the racors which I drain out , probably once each trip.
The intermitent nature of the problem seems to lead to the electrics, any suggestions as to which connections to check first.

 

[JUST-IN-TIME]

u should have no water at all

 

[jekyl]

Ideally yes, but surely with large tanks, being left in a (usually) nearly empty state ( due to unleaded going off if not fresh) and living in a very humid climate. I would have thought some water was inevitable????