Great Lesson Learned Today

[Vermont30]

So my Tartan 30 was launched yesterday. Wife and I took the day off to get an early start to the much awaited long holiday weekend. Loaded her up with a single trip to the mooring, rowing...my outboard is another story. Anyhow, I go to fire up the engine and she wants to go but just won't turn over. We weren't planning on heading to a beautiful, nicely protected anchorage until today. I looked at the potential problems and ran through a mental checklist, that I learned from the forum here. I thought about posting here...then I thought that would be kind of silly, because I know what the responses will be. So up at 8 this morning after a great night of cocktails, music, and the most restful sleep I've had in ages. Made coffee that our daughter gave us from Alaska on a very recent visit home in the French press. Good stuff. So, now onto the task of getting her started and to stay running. After some sound reasoning I picked up here, I surmise that I'm likely dealing with a fuel issue and I'll start there. Go right to the fuel line in and out of the Racor...all connections good, filter recently changed and clean as a whistle. I then notice a wire that is not connected...my eyes grow big and I mumble to myself, I may be onto something here. Get my stubby little screwdriver and attach the wire and tighten. With some confidence and hope, I insert the key and she fires right up. As it turns out that wire was the ground for the OPSS! Smiled and got a good laugh out of it and I give the forum all the
credit!

[ndutton]

Well, that's all good and congrats on resolving the issue yourself

BUT

Ground on the OPSS?? What ground? OPSS doesn't have - or maybe I should say need - a ground.

I'm not discounting your repair. You reconnected the wire and all is good, that we like, Zip-a-dee-doo-dah. I'm struggling with what we think the wire was and where it's connected.

[Vermont30]

It was one of two connections to the OPPS. I recently purchased the Moyer Electric fuel pump kit, but have not installed it yet. I have a configuration that looks nothing like the Moyer set up, but works. If I have time and the energy, i just may install that Moyer kit.

[ndutton]

I'm glad it's working. After all, that's the goal.

It will be interesting when the Moyer kit is installed. When the time comes you might want to start with a diagram of what's there to begin with.

[hanleyclifford]

Well, that's all good and congrats on resolving the issue yourself

BUT

Ground on the OPSS?? What ground? OPSS doesn't have - or maybe I should say need - a ground.

I'm not discounting your repair. You reconnected the wire and all is good, that we like, Zip-a-dee-doo-dah. I'm struggling with what we think the wire was and where it's connected.

Yeah, I'm a little fuzzy on this one, too - unless the OPSS is actually an interrupter for the ground circuit. Is that possible?

[ndutton]

Yeah, I'm a little fuzzy on this one, too - unless the OPSS is actually an interrupter for the ground circuit. Is that possible?

I 'spose it is providing the pump is remotely mounted on a non grounded and/or non-conductive surface. The pump casing is the ground connection. I'd say let's not look a gift horse in the mouth and let Vermont30 enjoy his season before I go all goofy on him because his isn't wired like mine.

He's up and running and that's a good thing. Ah, sweet mysteries of life . . . .

[Vermont30]

I just took a look at the wire. I may have been too quick to call it a ground wire. It is a black wire out of the electric fuel pump to the oil pressure switch. Hopefully that makes some sense. The pump is ancient, but checking my nice shiny new fuel pump from Moyer has the same black wire out of the pump.

[ndutton]

Badda-BING! I'll sleep better tonight.

The wire was probably bumped and knocked off the terminal in the course of other work. It's actually the positive feed wire to the pump. Identifying it as a ground instantly tightened my sphinc . . . uh, nevermind.

Good find, simple fix. Have a great season.

[Vermont30]

Lesson learned...after you work on your A4, always check if you accidentally knocked anything loose...here endeth the lesson.