29.5 engine problem...one more question

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J

Jane

Steve, Ed, Andy, and Alex, Thank you all for the advice. It'll save me big bucks (I won't have to hire a mechanic and I've learned alot). I'll go to the boat tonight and give it a try. But I have one more (maybe more than one) clarification.....where is the fuel shut off valve and what does it look like? On my 29.5 the primary filter is the one under the aft berth, correct? Should I bleed it first (and is that by turning the screw on the bottom) or should I unscrew the entire housing and remove the filter? Again, thank you for all the help. I've looked at a couple of books and they have helped but I haven't gotten enough to start screwing and unscrewing things yet. Jane
 
S

Steve O.

fuel shut-off

The fuel shut-off valve should be located in the fuel line before the primary filter but after the tank pick-up tube. It may be right at the tank, but I don't know where your tank is on the 29.5. It should be brass or aluminium and have a small handle that is open when lined up with the fuel line and closed when it is perpendicular to it. I would definetly unscrew the filter and replace the filter element; this is a periodic preventitive maintenance item, especially if you are having trouble with the fuel system. You don't want to have to do this in 4-5 footers if you can help it.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
the screw on the bottom of the filter...

Jane: The screw on the bottom of the Racor filter is only a water bleed. There typically should not be much or any water in there. I would recommend that you get about a quart of diesel fuel in a clean container. When you replace the Racor filter you can partially fill the filter with fuel before you screw it on. It just makes bleeding the system quicker. I would also remove the fuel pickup tube and check the end of the tube to see if there is a screen on the pickup tube. Most owners have removed this screen and just let the Racor do your primary filtering. It's much easier to replace the filter than to worry about this screen plugging up your system. Blowing out the junk on the pickup tube is only a temporary solution. If the tank has that much stuff in it, it will happen again. Also when you purchase your Racor filter (DO NOT get the 2 micron ones), buy one or two extras. If you are having fuel problems (dirty fuel) these filters can plug up very quickly. When you have a clean tank they will last for years without changing (not recommended). I would also siphon some fuel out of the tank into a clear glass jar. Check to see if you have contamination in the tank. If you fuel is contaminated, you may want to siphon the entire tank before you replace the filters.
 
Jul 1, 1998
3,062
Hunter Legend 35 Poulsbo/Semiahmoo WA
Yanmar Filter Bleeding

One of the problems with a diesel engine is keeping air out of the fuel lines. It seem that air can get in from all sorts of sources so the best thing to do is keep all connections tight. On the Yanmar fuel filter there is a bleed screw on the top of the filter holder that is a bit of a problem. It needs to be loosened to bleed the air out and tightened enough to prevent an air leak; however, there is a word of warning: the threads strip easily if it is tightened too tight (replacement cost is expensive). Another point is there is a copper banjo washer under the screw that is supposed to be replaced whenever the bleed screw is used (cheap). I suppose this is where the art of being a mechanic comes into play.
 
B

Bill O'Donovan

Fuel shut-off

The fuel shut-off on the 29.5 is atop the fuel tank. Open up the lazarette, pull up the board over the tank, and reach as far as you can to the inside corner. It will only need to be turned 45 degrees. Be sure to turn it back on when you get ready to fire up. Can't tell you how many people forget to.
 
E

Ed Schenck

Yanmar diesel course continued. . .

This is great. And it's free! I think Steve mentioned bad fuel and draining the tank. But no one has mentioned whether you have a cleanout port. And if the shutoff is "back under..." maybe you can't get the pickup tube off the tank. So it's hard to see how you can "fix" a dirty tank problem. I drained my tank by using one of those cheap drill-mounted pumps into a 6-gal. can. A lot of work with a 50 gal. tank. The marina was happy to have the fuel for the yard tractor. But I had easy access by pulling out the fuel gauge sender unit. Sounds like you would have to attach a pump right before your first filter. But then the worst of the gunk still remains around the pickup screen. You really need to get that removed I think(the screen AND the gunk).
 
A

Alex

I blew the clogged tank screen in..

..with my inflatable dinghy manual pump..disconecting the fuel hose between tank and filter ,at the filter end ,and pressing the manual pump to this end..Just mouth blowing wasn't strong enough. On this occasion , I noticed the primary fuel filter element ( paper) was very dirty, embeded with black hard particles.. I might have replaced the element not soon enough , or poured in at some time not so a clean fuel ( or maybe , bug contaminated..from not using/replacing ehough of it.. ) Indeed it's a pity that the "29.5" fuel tank gas no inspection/cleaning port.
 
C

Claude L.-Auger

Question for Steve D.

Hi Steve, read your post and agree with you. My Racor 220 S has a pump on top of it as well as a vent plug. You unscrew the plug and then pump until fuel fill the filter then bleeds out of the plug. Screw the pump and plug back on and voila, you got fuel and are ready to bleed the system. This without fooling with a quart of fuel trying to prefill the filter before bleeding the system. I highly recommend it but do not think Racor still makes the 220 S. I believe it has been replaced by the 320 ? My question concerns your comment about the 2 Micron filter (It is model 24S). Why would you not use it ? I have done it for years now and have never ever had any filtrering problems. Perhaps I have been lucky with good clean fuel ? Thanks for the info. BTW, boat just got on the hard for our long Canadian winter. My first sail was on June 24th, and in spite of this still managed to log in 985 miles this season. Thanks for the info.
 
B

Bill Murray

I have written before

I have written on my experiences on this subject before regarding my 29.5 (hull #175) -- CHECK THE ARCHIVES. Never the less, the fule shutoff is on top of the tank and almost inaccessible. buy a new one with teh appropriate barb fittings and stainless clamps and put it in the hose right before the racor filter. Then you can control it while working on the filter. Better yet, buy two, plus some more hose and another racor filter and plumb in a redundant filter so you can switch back and forth. A very nice set up especially because the "emergency" will happen when yo do not have an hour or two of comfortable time to fix it. To clean out your tank or to remove the pick up tube, you need to remove your tank. This is pretty easy on the 29.5. Just pull the big access panel at the aft end of teh aft berth and there is the tanks - fuel on the port and waste on the right. Cut the strapping and the (empty) tank will slide right out. take it off the boatr and do with it as you wish. be sure to pull the pick up tube out and get rid of the screen on the end. It is the souce of most peoples problems. Also be sure to clean out all the plastic shavings from the manufacture of the tank -- yes! They probably left them in there - after all yo have filters - right? Slide the tank back in the boat - replace the strapping with a ratchet adjustable tie down - good quality - then you can repeat the procedure easily anytime you want. Good Luck Bill Murray S/V Good faith H29.5 #175
 
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