Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

[Leonard]

I am in need of guidance;  Three months ago I replaced the electric fuel pump on the 'Westerbeke'. This past Sunday while motoring  back to my slip the motor started to 'struggle' just like before when I had to replace the original fuel pump with a new one. When the new pump was installed I replaced both fuel filters.

Is anyone with a Westerbeke having this same trouble, if so; how have you resolved the problem or can anyone 'chime-in' and offer some help?

Thanks

Tranquillity (S.F. Bay)

P.S. I now buy diesel  at a Gas Station so I am pretty sure the diesel is fresh !

[Noble, Milner E.]

With my brother-in-law's 2000 361, this happened and he had to re-check to see that there was no air leaks from changing the filters.  When this was done it was fine again.  Be careful not to distort the bowl at the little fuel filter at the rear of the engine.  I really don't know how you got to it without taking off the rear wooden panels in the quarter berth to get good access.  It's a real bear. This may be your trouble spot.

--Milner

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From: Benetea...@googlegroups.com [mailto:Benetea...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Leonard
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 1:31 PM
To: Benetea...@googlegroups.com
Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

[paul pryor]

Have you checked your impeller?

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From: Captain...@sbcglobal.net

To: Benetea...@googlegroups.com
Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 10:30:35 -0800

[Bill Jarvis]

Leonard,

 

In addition to the normal primary and secondary filter the electric fuel pump on the Westebeke has a small filter built in. It’s got a small bayonet cap on the bottom. Just take it off and replace the filter element.

 

Bill

 

From: Benetea...@googlegroups.com [mailto:Benetea...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Leonard

Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 1:31 PM

To: Benetea...@googlegroups.com
Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

 

I am in need of guidance;  Three months ago I replaced the electric fuel pump on the 'Westerbeke'. This past Sunday while motoring  back to my slip the motor started to 'struggle' just like before when I had to replace the original fuel pump with a new one. When the new pump was installed I replaced both fuel filters.

[Larry Cohan]

Leonard wrote:

the motor started to 'struggle' just like before when I had to replace the original fuel pump with a new one.

Leonard, tell us more about what the engine sounds like when "struggling".  Does the RPM go up and down?  Does the RPM just keep going down?  Is there a metallic clunking sound?  Does it sound like a cylinder isn't firing (a syncopated beat)?  Is the exhaust black, white, or gray? 

The answers will give us a better guesstimate of what the problem is.

Larry

[Leonard]

Milner:-

You are correct...'it is a Bear'. But I am careful when changing both fuel filters!

Leonard

S.F. Bay

[Leonard]

Paul:-

Please explain; to which impeller are you referring?

Leonard

S.F. Bay

----- Original Message -----

From: paul pryor

To: benetea...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 11:17 AM

Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Re: Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

[paul pryor]

Leonard:  It's on the engine water intake ... didn't know if it was worn down or it there was seaweed etc clogged in it ... not sure if it would affect rpm as much as temperature ... I always replace mine once a season just to be safe.
Paul

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From: Captain...@sbcglobal.net
To: Benetea...@googlegroups.com

Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Re: Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 06:12:28 -0800

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[Leonard]

Larry:-

RPM's go down.....I push forward on the throttle, with no effect! And then it starts to 'rev' up. When I slow down to enter the slip it starts a 'syncopated beat' [rough idle]

No metallic clunking sound

No change in exhaust, i.e. 'Clear'.

Leonard

S.f.Bay

----- Original Message -----

From: Larry Cohan

To: Benetea...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 12:54 PM

Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Re: Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

[Capt Brian]

If after checking for air leaks at fuel connections and filters you
may want to think about the fuel pickup in the tank. This has been a
problem on past B's that have a screen at the end of the pickup. It
will certainly make the pump work hard and the engine to struggle.

Capt Brian

[Larry Cohan]

Leonard wrote:

Larry:-

RPM's go down.....I push forward on the throttle, with no effect! And then it starts to 'rev' up. When I slow down to enter the slip it starts a 'syncopated beat' [rough idle]

No metallic clunking sound

No change in exhaust, i.e. 'Clear'.

Leonard,

In my experience, those symptoms are most consistent with partial fuel starvation caused by dirty filter(s).  I believe that in an earlier posting you said that they had been changed 3 months ago with the new fuel pump.  If, after those changes, the engine was running well and now it's not -- then the first thing I would do is to change both filters.  It's cheap and easy.  You may be approaching a total engine shutdown due to fuel starvation, which usually means having to bleed the air out of the system after you are forced to change the filters.

If I'm wrong and that doesn't change anything, then you're not out a lot of time or money.  If I'm right, then you might like to consider having your fuel tank "polished" by the professionals who do that.  They will run the fuel in your tank through huge filters over and over and over again until the tank is pretty clear of filter-clogging junk.  Normally filters will last more than 3 months unless the tank is full of schtuff.  The fuel polishing is expensive but necessary at some point.

Often what happens is that the schtuff lies on the bottom of the tank below the level of the fuel pickup.  But then you go out in a high sea state and shake, rattle and roll and that junk gets mixed with the lower level of fuel and gets picked up and clogs the Racor and eventually the on-board filter as well.  Did this problem happen after one of those lovely S.F. Bay windy days?

Good luck,

Larry

[Po...@aol.com]

i placed a second unit forward of factory filter and plumbed them so i can use both or isolate either one to enable changing filter while still running, also added a vacuum gage to check for any clogging of system

 

In a message dated 3/4/2008 6:55:40 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, Captain...@sbcglobal.net writes:

What filter size on the Racor, [10 or 2 microns] and how have you attached the second racor?

Leonard

S.F Bay

----- Original Message -----

From: Po...@aol.com

To: Benetea...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 10:49 AM

Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Re: Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

on my 30b had fuel pump go out but i  have not had that problem.  i have two racors plus filter on engine and they have only fouled once in four years

 

lee van valkenburg

b331-282

windplayer, los angeles

po...@aol.com

[Leonard]

Thank you! I'll look for that next!   Wonder why the marine mechanic did not mention this as a remedy??

Leonard

S.F. Bay

----- Original Message -----

From: Bill Jarvis

To: Benetea...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 12:38 PM

Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Re: Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

[Noble, Milner E.]

Yes, later this month, I'll have to go looking for it, too.

--Milner

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From: Benetea...@googlegroups.com [mailto:Benetea...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Leonard

Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 9:17 AM
To: Benetea...@googlegroups.com

Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Re: Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

[Leonard]

Thanks for the help.........

That is what I will plan to do this weekend!

 

Leonard

----- Original Message -----

From: Larry Cohan

To: Benetea...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 8:14 AM

Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Re: Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

[Leonard]

That is an excellent idea..........I will look into this!
Thanks

Leonard
----- Original Message -----
From: "Capt Brian" <bria...@hotmail.com>
To: "Beneteau Owners" <Benetea...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 7:50 AM
Subject: {Beneteau Owners} Re: Westerbeke 30B ; Oceanis 361-2001

[Leonard]

Paul;-

OH!!! I have a replacement that I will install during the next haul out!
Thanks

Leonard