So, working on the boat, I changed the fuel filters, engine filter and oil. Probably two dozen times I have done this since buying this boat. I got to the point of starting it and hardly any cranking amps. Battery went south. OK, it is a red top Optima group 34. Pulled the battery. Purchased in April 2004. Got my use out of it! Ordered and replaced. Now time to start it. Cranks great, but no start. Oh oh. Air in the line. Crack the bleed screw in the primary and clear any air. Crack the bleed screw on the secondary and crank it until I'm sure there is no air. Crank again. No fire. (Doing all this with the raw water intake closed of course.)
OK, I have never had to go through this before. This engine is supposed to be self-bleeding and I have always had it start and run fine after maybe a hiccup or two. Meanwhile, my boat neighbor with a twin Volvo-powered motor yacht can't get his starboard engine started after having a mechanic service it. He asks me if I have ever bled a diesel. I said I was going through this now. He asked If I would help him. I said "sure" but reminded him I had not yet been successful. Anyhow, I showed him where the bleed screw was on his secondary filter. We bled it several times and then the engine started right up.
So, that night, I pull out my service manual and read the information on bleeding the Yanmar. Of course, the illustrations are of a different engine despite the manual being for my model. While having a cocktail, I start reading the injector pump section since I figure I'm going to have to crack the injectors. As I am reading it, I notice the fuel shut off arm. What??!! I check the fuel shut off and it's up. How the hell did that happen? I push it down and she fires right up. Two wasted days, and now I wonder about the impeller. The only way to feel good about that is replace it. Hope I can do that without screwing up something. Geesh.
OK, I have never had to go through this before. This engine is supposed to be self-bleeding and I have always had it start and run fine after maybe a hiccup or two. Meanwhile, my boat neighbor with a twin Volvo-powered motor yacht can't get his starboard engine started after having a mechanic service it. He asks me if I have ever bled a diesel. I said I was going through this now. He asked If I would help him. I said "sure" but reminded him I had not yet been successful. Anyhow, I showed him where the bleed screw was on his secondary filter. We bled it several times and then the engine started right up.
So, that night, I pull out my service manual and read the information on bleeding the Yanmar. Of course, the illustrations are of a different engine despite the manual being for my model. While having a cocktail, I start reading the injector pump section since I figure I'm going to have to crack the injectors. As I am reading it, I notice the fuel shut off arm. What??!! I check the fuel shut off and it's up. How the hell did that happen? I push it down and she fires right up. Two wasted days, and now I wonder about the impeller. The only way to feel good about that is replace it. Hope I can do that without screwing up something. Geesh.