Why no manual prime?

[Deuce_and_a_Half_Dragon]

So this morning Murphy decides to drop by my house...... Was running about 45 minutes late, so I run out to the deuce, flip the power, waited about 3 minutes and tried to fire her up, flame heater and all, no dice. So I wait a few seconds and chalk it up to nipply weather, tried a second time, again, no dice. Nowim wondering because I've never needed more than 2 tries to get the fires burning. After the third try i was loosing power, so I pull the bronco around and charge each battery 10 minutes, flip the switch and and tried again, fired up, idled for about 20 seconds and died. So I start checking my filters, opened the primary with power on, nothing, not even a drip. So since I was now about an hour late, with some rather frosty hands and a colorful vocabulary, I put everything back, hop in the bronco and go, knowing I have some tinkering to do later today.

On the drive to school, I started thinking and wondered why these motors never had (that I've seen) a manual hand pump to prime the fuel system? So far everything I've tinkered with other than a 4cyl Volvo and a Detroit DDEC had a hand primer at the pump. And has anyone put in a manual primer?

Also as a side bit for my issue with the lift pump, how easily do the fuses there blow? I was told to start there before pulling the pump out.


James

 

[Warthog]

The electric lift pump is the priming pump. You could add some type of inline manual as a redundency feature.

The fuse is only a 3 or 5 amp slowblo. They will last a long time but they do wearout. Also your pump could be taking a dump, the bottom screen could have fallen off, or any number of things.

The easiest place to start is with the fuse. RadioShack has them. When the pump first starts, it can draw a bunch of amps so the slowblow fuse is required.

 

[Deuce_and_a_Half_Dragon]

Thanks warthog, the pump having **** the bed was my first guess then after a phone call I was informed of the possibility of fuses. Either way, as long as it's a quick thing for now I'll be happy, I'm taking a fine toothed comb to it once warmer weather and longer days roll around.

James

 

[doghead]

They don't need a hand pump, when they have an in-tank pump.

Start with your in-tank pump. Is it running, if not, check fuse. If it is running, loosen the fuel line on the top of the tank. is there fuel there? If not, pull pump and find problem. If there is, open the drain on the primary fuel filter, if you have fuel there, go to the secondary filters and open the bleeder on top of them. Fuel there?

 

[Deuce_and_a_Half_Dragon]

Thanks for the tips doghead, pump isn't running, stuck my ear in the fuel tank and nothing.

 

[jasonjc]

"so I run out to the deuce, flip the power, waited about 3 minutes and tried to fire her up"

Why the 3 minute wait???????

 

[Deuce_and_a_Half_Dragon]

Oops, sorry, meant 3 seconds, it's early and my coffee is burnt lol

 

[militarysteel]

i noticed on some the screen would plug full of crud, then blow the fuse. Clean screen and all good.

 

[doghead]

So, no pump noise. Unplug and check for 28v+ on one of the plug wires(for the in-tank). One is 28v+, the other is nothing. Put your meter ground on the frame.

If you have power at the plug, remove the fuse cover. Be gentle lifting it off the 3 studs. Check your fuse.

 

[Warthog]

And clean the contacts.

 

[Deuce_and_a_Half_Dragon]

Fuse was blown, George (gem-something on here, lol) walked me through it. I'm assuming I may have a cruddy screen so then next semi warm day I get I'm going to clean it, for now it's running perfectly fine.

Shame I couldn't get a 2A250V slow pop from an auto store, had to go to Tandy Aerospace (radioshack) for the fuses, but, hard to beat 3 bucks for about 5 or 6 fuses I guess

 

[Floridianson]

i noticed on some the screen would plug full of crud, then blow the fuse. Clean screen and all good.

On that note also use a flash light and look at /in you tank, dam if someone did not drop a beer can in mine on the 920.

 

[doghead]

Full or empty?