JD3

[Sir Nibble]

Lift pump? Diaphragm holed or gauze blocked.

[WotEver]

Lift pump? Diaphragm holed or gauze blocked.

From the first post...

All pipework etc. has been checked for air/diesel leaks, the fuel pump (lift) changed.

 

Tony

[bottle]

A possible problem has been identified.

 

I am not at liberty to post the problem at the moment.

 

If it becomes possible to identify the problem and it is the problem, I will do so at a later date.

 

Many of you have been thinking along the same lines as us and it was nice to know, we were not quite going mad.

 

May I thank you all for your help.

 

ps. Sorry to be so 'secretive' but I am sure you will understand.

[NB Esk]

Hi John.

 

That has been carried out this morning.

 

Soz, should'a gone to specsavers...

[bottle]

Why, the idea was good and only carried out this morning.

[alan_fincher]

Isn't the topic title a clue to who the manufacturer is?

:lol:

[ditchcrawler]

I thought you had tried a direct feed to the engine bypassing all the pipework and fittings?

[bottle]

Sorry if there was any confusion, the pipe work that was by-passed was only the tank and the feed to the engine.

 

An update:

 

It appears that the problem has been solved but further testing is taking place.

 

Again apologies for not stating any more but the boat owner needs to be sure and make some decisions.

[bottle]

I can post this:

 

Thanks to Beta for all their help and support. They have been very interested in this, in case the fault rears it ugly head on another engine.

 

from the boat owner.

[ditchcrawler]

I can post this:

 

Thanks to Beta for all their help and support. They have been very interested in this, in case the fault rears it ugly head on another engine.

 

from the boat owner.

Are you going to post what was found now that there are photos of it on blogs

[bottle]

No, I think I will make you wait.

 

 

 

 

Oh! all-right then.

 

To cut a long story short, the fuel filter (engine mounted) was by passed and the engine ran OK.

 

Further investigation seems to have found two hairline cracks in the filter housing. (the bit on the engine)

 

A new filter housing was sent special delivery (thanks Beta) to arrive Saturday, it has been fitted and all seems OK.

 

If anything further happens I will up date again.

 

 

Note: I had to leave on Friday so was not there when the posssible fault was found, bit peeved on that.

 

I would suspect that the recent occurrence of very heavily water / sludge / diesel bug contaminated fuel has damaged the fuel injection pump. Not really Beta's fault is it? Has the friend told Beta about the fuel issue?

 

 

GBBS

 

To answer your post:

 

The boat did have a recent occurrence of diesel bug/water contamination.

 

Beta were informed at the very beginning.

 

I am sorry but your suspicions were wrong, both Beta and an independent engineer dismissed the possibility of the contamination causing damage.

 

The owner has only bought diesel from one different place to his normal supplier in the last two years and that was recently.

Edited March 6, 2011 by bottle

[Albion]

 

Further investigation seems to have found two hairline cracks in the filter housing. (the bit on the engine)

 

A new filter housing was sent special delivery (thanks Beta) to arrive Saturday, it has been fitted and all seems OK.

 

Ah, an unusual fault. No wonder you were struggling a bit, but we were close then suspecting that the filter was letting in air on the suction side.

Roger

[bottle]

Yes the suspicion was right.

 

It was just finding it.

 

I can now but at the time...............................

[mykaskin]

People think about draining down water systems, but could the water trapped in a fuel filter freeze and cause damage?

 

Mike

[ditchcrawler]

Ah, an unusual fault. No wonder you were struggling a bit, but we were close then suspecting that the filter was letting in air on the suction side.

Roger

There is a photo of it here

[Albion]

There is a photo of it here

 

That is sheer bad luck. No-one could have predicted that fault. There is nothing like beign on-site for a decent diagnosis.

Roger

[trackman]

Really good to see that this problem has been resolved well. I've one of these JD3s in my boat, and it's been an really good engine for over 4 years and nearly 3000 hours running. I hope the owners of this one have a good time with it from now on, as we have with ours. I've never yet had a significant problem with the engine, and Beta Marine have been very helpful at all times. Last year we were on the Gloucester & Sharpness near their place and I wanted to call in to collect a spare drive belt. Their spares man offered to pick me up in his car if I moored at the nearest road bridge. That's what I call service!

 

trackman