drain of aqua muffler

[Bob Middleton]

I have a 1987 Catalina 27 with a M18 diesel engine. After changing the fuel filter and bleeding the fuel system, the engine will not start. I have now probably run the starter motor for a total of 30 seconds. Three questions: 1) How long can you run the starter motor before the sea water backs into the engine? 2) Where is the best place to drain the muffler? 3) Any secret to bleeding the fuel system? I ran the injection pump and bled the fuel filter okay and then opened the self bleed knob on the fuel injector pump for 4 minutes.

 

[John Visser]

Muffler drain

The Aqua-Lift muffler has a drain petcock used for draining. (If it is like mine, it is probably frozen shut from corrosion. A new one is available at auto parts stores.) To drain, loosen it (counerclockwise). jv

 

[Don]

Muffler / fuel bleed

After 30 seconds on the starter, you should drain the muffler. You could leave the raw water thruhull closed until the engine fires up. On my 86, I have to get inside of the port cockpit locker and remove the aft side panel. The muffler drain is on the aft side of the muffler. It is a black plastic nut that should only be finger tight. Remove it and the muffler drains into the bilge. For the not starting, you did open the fuel shut off valve on the tank, right? It sounds like you did the bleeding procedures correctly. Your fuel pump should be clicking slowly (about 2 clicks per second) with the self bleeder closed. It should click rapidly with it open, as it is by passing fuel back to the tank. Are your glow plugs working? They should be hot to the touch after about 15 seconds.

 

[Mike]

Starting Engine

I got water in the engine once while trying to start the engine; and from then on I keep the seacock closed until the engine starts then run down and open it. You won't over heat the engine and the impeller won't burn out unless you crank it a lot.

 

[Don Magdall]

Prevention of the problem

I have a Cat 30 with an Atomic 4. I have a 3 way valve in the water line that feeds the exhaust system. In the one position, the water feeds the exhaust system. In the other position the water is diverted to my sink drain. Whenever I am going to shut off the engine, I switch the water to the sink drain and let the engine run for about 15 more seconds. This empties the water from the exhaust system. When I start up, I leave the water diverted to the sink drain and hence no water is pumped into the exhaust. Once the engine starts I then turn the valve allowing the water to go into the exhaust system. With this system I have never had a problem starting the engine due to water getting back in the system. I few times I have been lazy and not diverted and had problems starting.

 

[Kevin]

Pull the kill cable!

The manuel says to prime the engine by opening the air bleed valve at the engine and pulling the kill switch. Then turn the engine over for ten seconds until you notice fuel coming through the air bleed. Close the air bleed, push the kill cable down and try starting normally. This is a two person operation. One at the engine and one at the key switch. Make sure you have primed the fuel line through the filters. Hope it helps...