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starting after an out of fuel condition
A mis-programed trace inverter and a power pole failure that didnt get noticed leaves me trying to start the bus up with — im guessing air in the line.
according to the manual i need to put fuel in the secondary filter – done … but then there is this note in the manual about needed to “apply fuel at 25psi to the quick connect.” uhrm .. ok what magic tool does this and where is this connector locted? I can use a primer squeeze bulb, but i doubt it makes 25psi. (no i dont have the optional primer pump, but i sure wish i did now!)
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13 Replies
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I would move this up to Chassi section it will get more attention. On the 92 series I had a small 12 volt fuel pump.(auto zone) in line before fuel filter I used for such problems. Just left it in and used it for filter changes etc. Fuel flows thru it just fine when not powered up. Haven’t had any trouble with 60 series prime. Bob
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You could use one of those plastic garden pump sprayers (preferably new and clean) and fill with diesel. Put a quick disconnect fitting on the sprayer hose, pump it up and it will push fuel through all the filters and lines. Might still have to open the bleed screw on the primary filter.
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If you look on the base of the primary fuel filter (actually it is the top that the filter screws into) you will see a fitting sticking out. I have seen some with a cap and I have seen some with what looks like a quick connect fitting. Regardless of its configuration that is where you want to introduce fuel. What I did was remove the fitting, get a fitting with the pipe threads that screws into the base and hose barbs on the other end. I pushed a hose from a pump up sprayer over the barbed end, pumped up the sprayer and pushed about 2 gallons or so through the fitting.
The key to success is to stop the flow from the sprayer just before it empties and admits air. I just released the pressure to stop the flow prior to exhausting the fuel in the sprayer. The bus will start right up. (after you restore the fitting to the way it was).
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Thanks folks. . I’ll get a garden sprayer and give it a shot!
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This is the sprayer I use and the fitting is the old style airconditioning gauge port. Buy the sprayer at the likes of Home Depot and the hose at NAPA. Cut the sprayer hose wand off and one end of the AC gauge/refrigerant fill hose and with a double ended barbed hose coupler and hose clamps join the AC hose to the pump and you are good to go!
JIM
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Thanks JIM that picture helps a lot!
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is there a port that the a/c connector will fit on already there?
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I don’t think you can count on the fitting or connector to be like JIM showed. I had one that was a capped pipe thread. The key is that whatever the fitting you just have to get fuel pumped through it.
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I try to stay at a half a tank because the return line puts hot diesel back to the tank and if the same as most diesels the fuel cools the injector pump so low fuel eats up and can’t cool as much.
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The fitting on the coach was there and I found the pump end to fit.
Note the fitting I have has a shrader type valve under the cap/cover so that disconnecting the hand pump will not leak fuel or admit air.
A capped pipe fitting would be very messy and difficult to work with.
This picture is difficult to take. The fitting is on the side of the fuel filter base block.
JIM
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Well after farting around with this thing for about 2 days I gave up and had Prevost out for a service call .. The tech fought it for about an hour .. called someone .. crawled under the bus .. did SOMETHING and it started right up in a plumb of gray smoke and a cheering crowd.
The SOMETHING was reported as “opened a bleeder valve to let some air out of the line” I’ve now been all under the same area and cant figure out what it was .. the closest thing I can see from where he was seems to be the fuel filter itself. I can’t find any valves, knobs, turnbuckles or anything along the fuel intake line. I suppose its possible that its on the injector line but I’ve not found it yet …
That said, there will be a manual shut off valve in the fuel line on the generator by sunday ..
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If you can find out the what and why of your problem it would be great if you post it here.
When you prime the system using a pressure device such as a weed sprayer you are introducing fuel at the secondary fuel filter and you are pushing that fuel through the system from that point, past the injectors to the fuel return line.
Assuming the fuel filters had fuel (were they primed?) any air should have been pushed through and into the fuel tank.
I have had two occasions, once on my 8V92 and once on my Series 60 to prime my coach using a weed sprayer and on both occasions the coach fired up immediately. Obviously the pressure in the fuel sprayer was released before the fuel in it was depleted and air was introduced.
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Sorry you missed your opportunity to find the bleeding procedure when the tech was there.
Possibly he removed the knurled cover shown in my last picture and depressed the center pin on the shrader style fill valve. This may have been sufficent to allow fuel to displace traped air in the line, by gravity.
JIM
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