On Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:28:37 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

he procedure we used was like this:

One guy cranked the engine while the other slightly loosened the fuel line
nut until fuel started squirting out. You could see the air bubbling out as
well. While still cranking the engine, we'd re-tightened the nut, then
we'd move on to the next cylinder. Like I said, it took several times on
each line to get all the air out so the engine would stay running. In
fact, we killed the battery and had to take a break while recharging it
halfway through the process.

There may be an easier way, but neither of us were diesel experts. It
worked though.

I have a Mercedes Unimog. When I ran it out of fuel and got air in the
lines, I cranked it till it started. About one minute of cranking and
it started and ran bad. Gradually it smoothed out as one cylinder
after another acquired an air free line.

Casady

On Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:19:49 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:

Another trucker with a Semi
pulled over next to him and use a line off an air compressor he had. (worked
great for an air powered lube gun he said as well as tires)

All semi's have an air compressor for the brakes. My Mercedes backhoe
had about 48 places to grease every day, counting the hoe, the loader,
and the tractor. All the ball joints and so on were to be greased
daily. It had air brakes, and I had the air grease gun.

Casady

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:28:37 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

he procedure we used was like this:

One guy cranked the engine while the other slightly loosened the fuel line
nut until fuel started squirting out. You could see the air bubbling out
as
well. While still cranking the engine, we'd re-tightened the nut, then
we'd move on to the next cylinder. Like I said, it took several times on
each line to get all the air out so the engine would stay running. In
fact, we killed the battery and had to take a break while recharging it
halfway through the process.

There may be an easier way, but neither of us were diesel experts. It
worked though.

I have a Mercedes Unimog. When I ran it out of fuel and got air in the
lines, I cranked it till it started. About one minute of cranking and
it started and ran bad. Gradually it smoothed out as one cylinder
after another acquired an air free line.

Casady


Apparently some diesels will self purge and prime, but not all. The Volvo
engines I had in the Navigator supposedly would self prime and purge but I
never tried, other than restarting after a fuel filter change.

Others can be a bear to purge and get running again. Best bet is just don't
run them out of fuel.

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:28:37 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

he procedure we used was like this:

One guy cranked the engine while the other slightly loosened the fuel
line
nut until fuel started squirting out. You could see the air bubbling out
as
well. While still cranking the engine, we'd re-tightened the nut, then
we'd move on to the next cylinder. Like I said, it took several times
on
each line to get all the air out so the engine would stay running. In
fact, we killed the battery and had to take a break while recharging it
halfway through the process.

There may be an easier way, but neither of us were diesel experts. It
worked though.

I have a Mercedes Unimog. When I ran it out of fuel and got air in the
lines, I cranked it till it started. About one minute of cranking and
it started and ran bad. Gradually it smoothed out as one cylinder
after another acquired an air free line.

Casady


Apparently some diesels will self purge and prime, but not all. The Volvo
engines I had in the Navigator supposedly would self prime and purge but I
never tried, other than restarting after a fuel filter change.

Others can be a bear to purge and get running again. Best bet is just
don't run them out of fuel.

Eisboch

I just remembered the Ford F-350 diesel PU I had. When it broke down on
the road and they had to replace the high pressure oil pump (pumps fuel to
and through the injectors) it took quite a bit of cranking to get it
running again. The first attempt ran the batteries down (there were two in
that truck) and they had to put a big starting charger on it to keep trying.
I would think that trucks designed for weekend warriors would be self
purging, but I guess not.

Eisboch

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:32:38 -0700, "Mike" wrote:

As a young lad, spending time on my grandfathers farm, it was drilled into
my head to NEVER, EVER let the tractors run out of fuel. There was no
excuse
other than laziness to let that happen since we had fuel onsite. I let it
happen once, and boy was he ****ed. I watched/helped him go thru the
procedure you described above. It never happened again.

Even if you are careful about not running out of fuel there is still
the issue of replacing fuel filters periodically. Some engines are
easier than others. Our primary generator has a 4 cylinder Yanmar
that is self bleeding for the most part but you do have to pre-fill
the new filter with clean fuel and crank it a bit.

The main engines for the trawler are DD 6-71s which are self bleeding
if you crank them enough but the engines consume so much battery power
while cranking that it is very easy to end up flat before they light
up. The solution is to install electric fuel pumps which can be
valved online when needed. You can hear the sound of the priming
pumps change when the injection system is fully charged, and the
engines will then fire up on the first turn.


My Chevy Duramax has a manual pump on top of the fuel filter. Just pull a
bleed screw and pump until fuel shows. I would worry about running out of
fuel as the high pressure pump may fail afterwards. Happens on cars and the
FI engine in my boat.

On Mar 24, 12:47*pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"Wayne.B" wrote in message

...



On Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:32:38 -0700, "Mike" wrote:

As a young lad, spending time on my grandfathers farm, it was drilled into
my head to NEVER, EVER let the tractors run out of fuel. There was no
excuse
other than laziness to let that happen since we had fuel onsite. I let it
happen once, and boy was he ****ed. I watched/helped him go thru the
procedure you described above. It never happened again.

Even if you are careful about not running out of fuel there is still
the issue of replacing fuel filters periodically. * Some engines are
easier than others. * Our primary generator has a 4 cylinderYanmar
that is self bleeding for the most part but you do have to pre-fill
the new filter with clean fuel and crank it a bit.

The main engines for the trawler are DD 6-71s which are self bleeding
if you crank them enough but the engines consume so much battery power
while cranking that it is very easy to end up flat before they light
up. *The solution is to install electric fuel pumps which can be
valved online when needed. *You can hear the sound of the priming
pumps change when the injection system is fully charged, and the
engines will then fire up on the first turn.

My Chevy Duramax has a manual pump on top of the fuel filter. *Just pull ableedscrew and pump until fuel shows. *I would worry about running out of
fuel as the high pressure pump may fail afterwards. *Happens on cars and the
FI engine in my boat.

Guys,

Thanks to all of your advice, we got the engine running this afternoon
and we got to have a beautiful couple of hours sailing on Sydney
harbour!

Before I posted the question, I had assumed we were going to have to
call in a mechanic so I very much appreciate the time and money you've
all saved me.

Thanks again!

Greg