As we all know these types of shut downs can be very frustrating. I can now report the cause---but pls let me tell the story:
While bring my "new" C/C 27' home (an 80 mile trip along Florida's West Coast) we were motoring and toying with the new autopilot. There was an IMMEDIATE shutdown -----however, while the engine was still spooling, it restarted. In approx 45min it again shut down--totally. Restart was a matter of hitting the button--but the failures continued on a very regular basis---and restarts became more difficult. Whilst maintaining my helm duties (wing/wing @6knts with no pole) I suggested that my dear wife might change the racor spin on---which she kindly did. Clean. Not the solution!
The restart after a cool down caused visions of dancing coils, condensers, points, etc. Hour after hour of running at power while tied to the dock produced further shutdowns but not on a predictable basis. The nature of the failures went from IMMEDIATE to PLEASE HELP ME I'm starving---with a few IMMEDIATES thrown in.
Of course there was plenty of advice from my marina pals---none of which were young enough or small enough to get down in THERE. Several conversations with Don M. and Ken---All new electrical stuff on the engine side. Hot wire direct from battery to + side of coil----etc.
I've gone on long enough----here's the fix.
The electric fuel pump gets its start up boost thru the soleniod when the button is pushed. After that the oil pressure exceeds 10 psi and the oil pressure safety switch closes and provides power , when needed, to the pump. One can jump across these terminals for diagnostic stuff---but not a good idea long term. This seemed to help---put the switch on the work bench. Got three guys---one to supply 12v and ground to the switch. One non-smoker to supply 10+ psi thru a 3/8 hose connected to the business end of the switch, and one to man the multimeter. The non-smoker was able to close the switch 33.3% of the time. We then used a thin phillips screw driver inserted in the opening-----this provided positive results 33.3% of the time. So, go figure---intermittant failure of an oil safety switch----indeed.
I'm sure Don can explain the fine points of the confusing shutdown messages.
I'm going sailing---thanks for all the help Don.
Dave in sunny ft Myers----77F ENE @12-15
While bring my "new" C/C 27' home (an 80 mile trip along Florida's West Coast) we were motoring and toying with the new autopilot. There was an IMMEDIATE shutdown -----however, while the engine was still spooling, it restarted. In approx 45min it again shut down--totally. Restart was a matter of hitting the button--but the failures continued on a very regular basis---and restarts became more difficult. Whilst maintaining my helm duties (wing/wing @6knts with no pole) I suggested that my dear wife might change the racor spin on---which she kindly did. Clean. Not the solution!
The restart after a cool down caused visions of dancing coils, condensers, points, etc. Hour after hour of running at power while tied to the dock produced further shutdowns but not on a predictable basis. The nature of the failures went from IMMEDIATE to PLEASE HELP ME I'm starving---with a few IMMEDIATES thrown in.
Of course there was plenty of advice from my marina pals---none of which were young enough or small enough to get down in THERE. Several conversations with Don M. and Ken---All new electrical stuff on the engine side. Hot wire direct from battery to + side of coil----etc.
I've gone on long enough----here's the fix.
The electric fuel pump gets its start up boost thru the soleniod when the button is pushed. After that the oil pressure exceeds 10 psi and the oil pressure safety switch closes and provides power , when needed, to the pump. One can jump across these terminals for diagnostic stuff---but not a good idea long term. This seemed to help---put the switch on the work bench. Got three guys---one to supply 12v and ground to the switch. One non-smoker to supply 10+ psi thru a 3/8 hose connected to the business end of the switch, and one to man the multimeter. The non-smoker was able to close the switch 33.3% of the time. We then used a thin phillips screw driver inserted in the opening-----this provided positive results 33.3% of the time. So, go figure---intermittant failure of an oil safety switch----indeed.
I'm sure Don can explain the fine points of the confusing shutdown messages.
I'm going sailing---thanks for all the help Don.
Dave in sunny ft Myers----77F ENE @12-15
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