Generator Fuel Issue

[Freestyle]

Generator cut off in the middle of night at anchor. (Yes, I should have 2 but do not yet.)

I changed the Racor and got it started after running the priming pump for about 20 minutes. It ran for an hour and cut off again. It has done this all day now running as long as 1 hour and a half and as little as 20 minutes.

I bought fuel at an unusual place so this may be it. I shocked the tank about an hour ago.

If it isn't fuel, it could be that I just got a ton of air in the system when I changed the Racor but I would think a few hours of running would have run through any air bubbles.

One thought is that my fuel pump is not working and that all I am doing is running the priming pump and filling the filter which keeps the generator running for as long as an hour and a half. If this is the case, is there any danger in periodically running the priming pump as a way to keep the boat cool for the 10 hour trip home?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks

Bruce

Freestyle
1986 62 CPMY
Tampa

 

[Angela]

What genny do you have? I had a similar problem a while back when we were also having fuel issues. We got the fuel clean, but my problems persisted intermittently. I have a Westerbeke and the Westerbeke dealer told me that the electric fuel pumps are notorious for failing once they've had stress put on them. Trying to suck dirty fuel is that very stress that weakens them and they eventually fail. I replaced the little pump and she hasn't missed a beat since. That was 3 years ago.

Also, did you change the filter that's on the genny in addition to the Racor?

 

[REBrueckner]

No harm running the priming pump...do it if that keeps the genny running.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

Priming pump is "seperate" fuel source and non controllable by the generator...if generator develops leak and quits, fuel pump keeps pumping fuel out the leak ... not good ...if you must do that, wire it through the fuel solenoid.

 

[saltshaker]

When it quits is the fuel filter low on fuel? Does it happen when the boat is rocking or at rest? How full is the tank that supplies the generator? Try using a portable tank to see if it runs off it ok. Sounds like a destruction or an air leak. Could be a bad pump but it seems odd that she runs after you prime the system.

 

[JLR]

I just had the same problem. The check ball in the Racor filter got gummed up somehow. Take apart the Racor and check the ball. I replaced the whole Racor to save some time but it is easy to take apart and clean.

 

[bigbill]

i had the same symptoms after i did a filter change....... it was a chip of paint that got between the cover gasket, and its sealing surface.