29.5 engine...a follow-up and a new question

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Jane

There are two screws on top of the secondary fuel filter, one with a plastic washer and one with a copper washer. When I bled the engine I opened up the one with the plastic washer. Was that correct and then what is the other one? Thanks for all the help! You're all great teachers! Last night I replaced the primary fuel filter/seperator. It was on so tight that I had to take the entire housing off the boat and use a vise to get it open to replace the element inside. It was black, obviously never changed. I also blew into the intake hose and heard the bubbles in the fuel so the screen is not now at least clogged (I will figure out how to remove it later). I also bled at a second bleed screw down after the secondary filter. Started the engine and Success for about 3 minutes then it died again. I bled again and it would not start. By this time I was too tired to fool around with it anymore and will try again this Saturday. I"ll start by removing the fuel hose after the filter/seperator with the fuel valve open and see if the fuel is runnning free at that point and then check all my connections to see if they're tight. And bleed again.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Bleed screws.

Jane: The bleed screws are the ones with the 'phillips' slots in them there are two of them on the engine. When you do this DO NOT us a screw driver. Use an end wrench. As you pump, you will see bubble/froth come out at first. Once the line is bled it will stream fuel. Do them in sequence, the one that is closest to the fuel tank first and then the next one. Normally this is all you need to do. DO NOT overtighten. This goes for the secondary filter bowl too. These are made of alum. or pot metal and the threads can be easily stripped. Be sure to have a shop rag to clean up the drips on your engine. You should also have an absorbant pad in the bilge under the engine to catch any fuel that may drip. These cost about $1.00 and can be let in the engine bilge to catch any fuel or oil drips from the engine. You may also want to get a couple of the metal washers and the plastics ones too. If you disconnect any point where the metal (banjo) washers are attached, you should not reuse them. They crush when they are tightened. The nylon washers are good to have on hand just in case one cracks. This is common for then engine to run and die if you have air in the line. Just bleed again and try it. Make sure that you DO NOT have any leaks. This is sometimes not easy to see on the intake side because it is sucking air and may not leak fuel. Good luck, it sounds like you are becomming our resident expert.
 
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Ed Schenck

Been there as they say.

Sounds all too familiar. Still think you need to tackle the tank first. You are blowing the "crap" away from the pickup only to suck it right back against the screen. The fuel pump puts tremendous suction at that point. Your engine, after bleeding, uses up the fuel in the line and filters then dies. On my 2QM20 I sometimes have to open the bleed valves at the injectors to get her started. Hook that 6-gal. outboard tank(see Link) hose to the inlet of your Racor(primary). Two squeezes of the bulb on the hose and you won't have to bleed. Bet she starts right up and keeps on running. Proof the problem is in the tank(or the line).
 
Jul 1, 1998
3,062
Hunter Legend 35 Poulsbo/Semiahmoo WA
Possible Air Leak Source

If you're getting frustrated with air leaks there is one possible source - the fuel hose. A small crack in the hose can occur around the hose clamp or at the end of the barb fitting and it can be very hard to see. For info, on the earlier boats Hunter didn't use marine grade hoses and the USCG approved fuel hoses are much heavier/larger in outside diameter than the ones they used. I don't know if the later xx.5 series still used non-marine grade fuel lines.
 
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Andy Falls

Bleed after starting

If your engine continuously dies after starting (or seems to run rough), and you know the fuel lines/pickup tubes/filters are not clogged, bleed a little while its running. CAUTION-this can get messy, and high pressure diesel can cut like a knife, and there are moving parts; but you can bleed air out at the secondary filter while the engine is running.
 
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Russ Garecht

Recall

I don't know if this will help but, shortly after I took delivery of my 29.5 I got a recall notice on the fuel lines. I don't have the paperwork but I remember something about the lines collapsing and starving the fuel. Good Luck Russ Her Diamond Ring
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Andy, do you think that this is prudent advice?

Andy: Do you think that this is prudent advice. Trying to bleed an engine while it is running can be a real saftey hazard. Belt whirling, pullies pulling, alternators amping, injectors injecting ....... I think I would advise getting a mechanic to solve the problem if this turns out to NOT be some type of a recall.
 
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