Best way to prime engines while on the hard.

[RJM]

I recently had the fitting for the hose on my forward tank going to the distribution manifold fail. Since it was the fitting right at the fuel tank, probably no more fuel was lost than what looks like whatever was in the hose and 1/2 the Racor. So, smelly, but not serious. Let's just say that I am happy that it failed here in the boat yard and not somewhere at sea... Naturally a complete survey of the hoses found that some had been replaced and were quite good, but 5 were suspect, so out with the old and in with the new. I hope to splash the boat this coming week and the question of priming the engines came up. I don't have priming pumps on the fuel lines and now I have 5 hoses that are empty. I know, fuel pumps are already on the list to add.

Option one: Put it in the sling and in the water, fill the Racor back up and hope that the batteries can last long enough to pull fuel through.

Option two: Crank the engines while on the hard until they catch. Of course, shut them right down once the do.

Option one is the boat yard's suggestion, option two is me thinking.

The reason for option two, while I think that it is riskier, we would still be hooked up to shore power and if for some reason the batteries couldn't get the engines primed, then they at least would be charging for another attempt.

All thoughts welcome! I am learning as I go.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Option #3 ??
Since the fuel lines are empty, Install a priming pump.
Integral to the Racors or stand-alone.

 

[Pascal]

Option 3…. Buy a pump and hook it up temporarily on the outlet side of the racor. It doesn’t have to be pretty, you can use any fitting or even clamp a thicker hose on the outside of the fittings. You can even use a brass hand pump…. That will pull fuel thru the hoses and into the Racors.

Any electric pump will, even a generic gas pump for a car.

Much better than cranking and cranking

 

[SEVEN]

Get one of these or similar pumps and have it on hand whenever you need to prime.

 

[zigzag930]

I've had to bleed my DD's twice. Old timer showed me a simple trick. I remove the hose at the return return end of the injector rail and hook a hand pump (I use an oil extractor) to that fitting. Pull a vacuum for a bit until fuel starts to appear in the pump outlet. Crank her for a second or two while puling a vacuum and she will fire right up.

 

[jmooney]

In my experience, if the on engine (secondary) filter is full and the Racor is full , the engine will start and pull fuel to the Racor . I have forgotten to turn the Racor on and the engine will idle for 20 minutes on the fuel in both filters.

 

[Captain Ralph]

I've had to bleed my DD's twice. Old timer showed me a simple trick. I remove the hose at the return return end of the injector rail and hook a hand pump (I use an oil extractor) to that fitting. Pull a vacuum for a bit until fuel starts to appear in the pump outlet. Crank her for a second or two while puling a vacuum and she will fire right up.

Damm, I luv this idea.
God bless old timers and old pharts.
Sometimes the same guy.

 

[Briankinley2004]

Damm, I luv this idea.
God bless old timers and old pharts.
Sometimes the same guy.

I know an old phart who would stick an air hose in the fuel tank on a tractor and wrap a rag around it.Give it a good shot until it returned. I suppose you could do the same thing at the racor