Say by chance someone (me) would run out of fuel.

What is the procedure to restart?

Things to consider:
There is currently no fuel in the tanks. I will need to bring in approximately
5 to 10 gallons prior to motoring one hour to the fuel docks to top tanks.
Will need to replace one Racor and two engine mounted fuel filters. Should I
do this with the 5 to 10 gal. Or after the tanks are topped off?
Will need to prime the filter and fuel line to the single Ford Lehman.
Will need to replace fuel filter and prime fuel lines to the Onan generator
also. (Don't ask)

Could someone also go over the procedure to priming the filters and removing
the air from the injector lines?

Things I've learned. Don't assume the PO replaced the tanks with the same size
as the originals. Don't assume the fuel gauge is correct when it's reading
over one third full even if you were going to top off the tanks on your next
trip out of the Harbor. Don't assume that your noise, shaky,  little one
cylinder Onan quit from another electrical failure like it did last year.

Nice to know a Lehman will run for 10 minutes with just the fuel in the lines,
once the gen-set runs the tanks dry.

M/V Anteak
1979 34' CHB Aft. Cbn.
Downtown Shoreline Marina
Long Beach, Ca.

Name and place should be withheld from embarrassment

Monday, June 21, 2004, 4:54:00 PM, Kirby wrote:

DKT> Say by chance someone (me) would run out of fuel.

DKT> What is the procedure to restart?

DKT> Things to consider:
DKT> There is currently no fuel in the tanks. I will need to bring in approximately
DKT> 5 to 10 gallons prior to motoring one hour to the fuel docks to top tanks.
DKT> Will need to replace one Racor and two engine mounted fuel filters.

I assume you were planning to replace the filters soon anyway, and
don't think that you should replace the filters just because you ran
out of fuel (although this is probably the most convenient time to
change the filters.)

DKT> Should I
DKT> do this with the 5 to 10 gal. Or after the tanks are topped off?

I'd change the filters now, before refilling the tanks (or even
putting a few gallons in), so you'll only have to bleed things once.
(if there is a shut-off valve on the tank, close it before you start -
otherwise there will be enough fuel in the tank to make a mess!)

Although you ran out of fuel, you will probably find some fuel in the
filters, so be ready to catch it - if you have the original
engine-mounted dual filter, put a heavy plastic bag around each filter
before you open it - otherwise you'll have fuel everywhere.  When
re-assembling the engine filters, put a little grease on the upper
seal to hold it in the housing, to make assembly easier.

DKT> Will need to prime the filter and fuel line to the single Ford Lehman.
DKT> Will need to replace fuel filter and prime fuel lines to the Onan generator
DKT> also. (Don't ask)

DKT> Could someone also go over the procedure to priming the filters and removing
DKT> the air from the injector lines?

After replacing all the filters, put a few gallons of fuel in the
tank, and open the bleed fitting on the first filter and open the
shut-off valve at the tank. Close that fitting when solid fuel (no
bubbles) comes out. (this assumes that the first filter is below the
tank - if not, I hope there's a pump on the Racor...)

Next, open the bleed fitting on the second engine filter (nearest the
injection pump), and find the manual priming pump on the engine
(starboard side, aft, and low, based on my 4 cylinder Lehman), and
pump that until solid fuel comes from the bleed fitting. You may have
to rotate the engine a bit to allow the manual pump to work - just hit
the starter for a second, and repeat, til you can feel the pump
working.

On a previous sailboat I loosened the delivery pipe fittings on the
injectors after running out of fuel - but on that Yanmar, the
injectors were exposed - on the Lehman, they're hidden under the valve
covers, so I'd try loosening the injection pump end of the delivery
pipes instead - then crank the engine til fuel comes out of those
fittings - tighten everything up, cross your fingers, and hope it will
start.....

--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI    Vancouver, B.C., Canada
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver-webpages.com/van-ps