Engine won't start and generator quits on '79 FC 3208

[Mike Hohnstein]

Crack two injector lines at the head, a 3/4" open end should do the trick,
stroke the hand pump until you get good flow, tighten the line nuts, floor the
throttle and fire up the engine. Repeat process if no start. Think of the
diesel fuel system like hydraulic brakes, air can get locked at the injector and
it needs to be bled. Once you get some air in the system you will have to break
a couple of line nuts, every time. Some times a little WD 40 spray in the
intake will be required to get a stubborn engine running. Avoid ether.
It's normal for old birds to develop fuel delivery problems, you need an
electric fuel pump back by the tank. The factory (83 and up) mounts it inside
the frame rail behind the rear axle. Fuel line check valves are a good thing, I
have 4 of them in my fuel column and my diesel boiler still pulls air when the
gen set is running. The major problem is the fuel lines are a little too small
for best performance. I'd like 1/2" all the way up to the engine, but that can
be a real project. Make sure you don't have kinks or bent line any where in the
supply and return runs. Filter gasket sealing issues might be your problem too,
whatever, air don't burn.
Mike Hohnstein
Germantown, WI
83FC35
----- Original Message -----
From: stephenskrocki
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 5:26 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Engine won't start and generator quits on '79 FC
3208


I have two big problems. The generator has been cutting out
whenever I am driving. It will run for hours under load while
parked, but it will quite within about 10-15 minutes once I start
driving. An hour later, I can run it again for another 10-15
minutes. Sounds like an over-heating issue maybe, but it runs
better when it is sitting still and getting the hottest. I took it
to the shop and they were convinced it was because I had no Racor
water seperator (previous owner bypassed it rather than replace
it). I had one installed, but the problem persists.

Now that I have it back, it has sat for about a month and I can't
the main engine started! The generator still runs great (standing
still) but the main engine will not start. It turns over and I've
checked an re-checked that their is fuel in the lines. I replaced
the gasket on the priming pump too, since that was leaking a bit.
It will turn over with ether, but that doesn't help keep it
running. I spoke with the shop that worked on it, and they said
that they probably left something loose when they serviced the
filters or something to cause the fuel to siphon back to the tank.
However, as I said I can get fuel up past the engine-mounted fuel
filter but I cxan't get it to fire up. Has anyone had either the
problemw ith the generator or the problem with the main engine not
starting? Any ideas would be helpful. I've been on the phone with
the shop and even had a friend of a friend who is a mechanic come
and look and I don't know what to do! Before it went into the shop,
it started soooo sweet! Now, nothing. Please help if you can!

Stephen Skrocki
1979 FC 3208 CAT





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