CapetaniosG
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2005
- Messages
- 168
- Hatteras Model
- 53' MOTOR YACHT (1969 - 1988)
My Hatteras 53 MY LADY NTINA was on the hard for almost 3 years. This year I decided it was time
to dip her again into the Aegean Sea and have some fun sailing around the ever inviting Greek
islands.
Launch day came and she was in the water again after so long on the hard. The launching crane
still loosely holding her and me checking for water inflows. None found other than a small leak from
starboard rudder. Nothing to worry about. Checked the bilge pumps. All worked !!
Now it was time to fire up the venerable DD8V71TI's while holding my fingers crossed.
The port engine fired right up and ran beautifully. I was not so lucky with the starboard.
Would start, work for 5, 10, 15 seconds and quit. Had to be air in the fuel system or lack of fuel.
Knowing DDs are "self air bleeding" I zeroed in on the fuel part. Had changed primary and
secondary fuel filters before launching. Fuel looked clean in the Racor. Fuel manifold valves were on.
Before I started delving into defective injectors, governors and the like, I decided the culprit had to be
the little fuel pump. I was ready to pull it off but some divine power told me to stop and think about it.
At the same time my eyes fell on my little hammer lying near by. Instinctively I picked it up, not knowing
what to do with it, I gently tapped the fuel pump several times and went back up to the controls, pressed
the start button and bingo! It started right up and sounded like the old days. So if you think a
hammer is only for hammering nails, think again.
to dip her again into the Aegean Sea and have some fun sailing around the ever inviting Greek
islands.
Launch day came and she was in the water again after so long on the hard. The launching crane
still loosely holding her and me checking for water inflows. None found other than a small leak from
starboard rudder. Nothing to worry about. Checked the bilge pumps. All worked !!
Now it was time to fire up the venerable DD8V71TI's while holding my fingers crossed.
The port engine fired right up and ran beautifully. I was not so lucky with the starboard.
Would start, work for 5, 10, 15 seconds and quit. Had to be air in the fuel system or lack of fuel.
Knowing DDs are "self air bleeding" I zeroed in on the fuel part. Had changed primary and
secondary fuel filters before launching. Fuel looked clean in the Racor. Fuel manifold valves were on.
Before I started delving into defective injectors, governors and the like, I decided the culprit had to be
the little fuel pump. I was ready to pull it off but some divine power told me to stop and think about it.
At the same time my eyes fell on my little hammer lying near by. Instinctively I picked it up, not knowing
what to do with it, I gently tapped the fuel pump several times and went back up to the controls, pressed
the start button and bingo! It started right up and sounded like the old days. So if you think a
hammer is only for hammering nails, think again.
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