Return to the home page...

Go Back   Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > Fuel System

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   IP: 76.97.169.94
Old 09-03-2010, 11:02 PM
SailingAlien's Avatar
SailingAlien SailingAlien is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Cumming, Ga
Posts: 13
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
New Fuel tank, no fuel

I installed a new fuel tank on my Morgan, hooked up the hoses, added fuel and hit the switch but the engine never got a spark. After some checking, the fuel was not making it to the fuel filter. I was expecting the fuel pump on the Atomic 4 to pull the fuel in from the tank once I started cranking. Crazy thought I guess. The tank is higher than the engine but the fuel line comes out of the top of the tank before heading down to the fuel filter and engine, so gravity is going to need some help to start. How can I get it to the engine. Can I prime it through the flame arrester? I can get some flow of fuel by sucking on the hose before it gets to the fuel filter, but all in all that seems like an unhealthy approach. I seem to recall somewhere that the fuel pump on the Atomic 4 didn't start working until the engine was running. That will make things a little difficult. Any thoughts on how I can get the fuel to the engine?
________
Honda VTX1800C

Last edited by SailingAlien; 01-21-2011 at 11:51 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2   IP: 173.166.26.241
Old 09-03-2010, 11:14 PM
hanleyclifford's Avatar
hanleyclifford hanleyclifford is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 6,978
Thanks: 172
Thanked 280 Times in 226 Posts
Question

Do you have a mechanical or electrical fuel pump?
Reply With Quote
  #3   IP: 76.97.169.94
Old 09-04-2010, 12:10 AM
SailingAlien's Avatar
SailingAlien SailingAlien is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Cumming, Ga
Posts: 13
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I don't know. How can I tell? Based on my conversations with Ken, I have a late model Atomic 4.
________
screplays

Last edited by SailingAlien; 01-21-2011 at 11:51 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4   IP: 24.152.131.220
Old 09-04-2010, 12:23 AM
ndutton's Avatar
ndutton ndutton is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 9,619
Thanks: 198
Thanked 2,208 Times in 1,425 Posts
Which one of these?
Attached Images
  
__________________
Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
Reply With Quote
  #5   IP: 76.97.169.94
Old 09-04-2010, 11:05 PM
SailingAlien's Avatar
SailingAlien SailingAlien is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Cumming, Ga
Posts: 13
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'll take a look tomorrow but I want to say it is the second one which I assume is mechanical.
________
ultimate fighters

Last edited by SailingAlien; 01-21-2011 at 11:51 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6   IP: 24.152.131.220
Old 09-04-2010, 11:40 PM
ndutton's Avatar
ndutton ndutton is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 9,619
Thanks: 198
Thanked 2,208 Times in 1,425 Posts
We're all holding off until we know what type of fuel pump you have. Be prepared for the outboard squeezy bulb suggestion, the obvious inquiry about the tank valve being closed (many of us have experienced that), oil pressure safety switch bypass (if electric pump), loose clamps/air leaks and so on.

Looking forward to seeing your next post.
__________________
Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
Reply With Quote
  #7   IP: 76.97.169.94
Old 09-05-2010, 09:56 PM
SailingAlien's Avatar
SailingAlien SailingAlien is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Cumming, Ga
Posts: 13
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Got a suggestion from a guy on the dock and it paid off. It's a mechanical fuel pump (the second picture). We poured gas into the flame arrester waited a few moments and let her crank a few times. We drained one battery and had switched to the second before we heard a response from the old A4. She finally said "I wanna run" with that higher cranking sound of almost catching. A few more turns of the key and gas and she roared to life. I gotta tell ya, she sounded smoother than she did last year. Ran it for about 30 minutes, and re-started her. Again she came alive. I am so excited I don't know how I will sleep tonight. I will, knowing I can go sailing.
________
ufc

Last edited by SailingAlien; 01-21-2011 at 11:52 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8   IP: 173.166.26.241
Old 09-05-2010, 10:05 PM
hanleyclifford's Avatar
hanleyclifford hanleyclifford is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 6,978
Thanks: 172
Thanked 280 Times in 226 Posts
Question

We are all rejoicing with you that your engine is running again. A question does remain. You make no mention of the primer pump on the fuel pump. Do we assume it is defective or do you know?
Reply With Quote
  #9   IP: 76.97.169.94
Old 09-06-2010, 12:05 PM
SailingAlien's Avatar
SailingAlien SailingAlien is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Cumming, Ga
Posts: 13
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I don't think it's defective. I think it's owner is defective. I didn't even see the hand primer until this morning (Duh!). So instead, we manually (via the flame arrester) did the same thing I guess. Next time, I'll come here first instead of waiting until I have a problem. I do have a question though about the fuel ball. When we purchased the boat, it was equipped with an external fuel tank and fuel ball. It did take some a couple of squeezes to get the engine to start. That's all been removed. Would this be an indication of a bad primer pump? I haven't had a chance to get back to the boat yet, so I won't know until tomorrow if I need to prime it again. Why would the engine need a fuel ball?
________
FZ1

Last edited by SailingAlien; 01-21-2011 at 11:52 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
fuel pump

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Experience Cleaning a Dirty Fuel Tank in Place BobA Fuel System 16 09-21-2012 09:02 AM
Engine won't start and I'm at my wits-end ChicagoNewport27 Troubleshooting 64 07-23-2011 12:47 AM
Fuel-Related Engine Shutdowns Don Moyer Fuel System 32 02-18-2011 04:36 PM
Update on ethonol in my fiberglass fuel tank domenic General Interest 3 07-23-2010 10:33 AM
Fuel tank flush? Fuel deliver problems. SimonP Fuel System 13 10-02-2008 05:22 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


Universal® is a registered trademark of Westerbeke Corporation

Copyright © 2004-2024 Moyer Marine Inc.

All Rights Reserved