I am a 20+ year owner of Breeze, a 1988 Ericson 26 with the classic Universal m-12 motor on Presque Isle Bay, Lake Erie. The motor has worked well over the years, with some minor repairs. This spring, in preparation for launching, I could not her to start. Replaced both fuel filters and still could not get her to go. I did notice my electric Fawcett fuel pump (three years old) seemed to be working intermittently, and upon the advice of a very experienced mechanic/rigger (who has gorgeous old Cape Dory), I replaced the fuel pump again. I got Breeze started on the cradle and launched in mid May and it seemed to run ok. However, about six weeks later, it kept quitting, stalling out. The first time it happened, I was able to get it going again enough to get back to our slip, but only by using a lot of throttle. Subsequently at the slip, I could get it to to run, but after it warmed up it would stall at idle and when I heard it stalling, I would advance the throttle, and even that would not always prevent the engine. I started to look for a diesel mechanic. In Erie, there are very few marine diesel mechanics and it took weeks to find someone. I finally did find a business that said they would help me. The owner came down and I got the motor going for him. He put his heat sensor on the cylinders and said one of them was running at 145 degrees and the other was like 90. He said I needed a new injector. Using the advice of people on the forums here I was able get one through a local Kubota dealer (still $200). More delays, but ultimately, their mechanic replaced the injector, bled the system and got it going. Unfortunately I was not there when he did the work. I say unfortunate, because I long suspected that fuel may have been the primary culprit and was not able to discuss this with him. In the past, my wife and I have not used the boat extensively, primarily for day sails and at most we used maybe three gallons of diesel a season. So, I took my wife on the boat and it quit shortly after leaving the marina. Got it going again, but was not able to get back in the slip and needed a short tow. Very bad day!!
I pulled the racor filter(R24S), dumping its fuel into a container and took both up to the repair shop and luckily ran into the mechanic. He took one look at the filter and examined the fuel I brought, and we agreed the fuel didn't even smell like diesel and had already fouled the filter. So, he got all the fuel pumped out of the tank and said he pulled up lots of gunk from the bottom. After replacing both filters again and bleeding the engine, we got it going again. I put a total of six gallons in the 15 gallon tank. He advised using Sta-bil every time new fuel is put in and also a dose for winterizing. He also said not to fill the tank because, with my small amount of seasonal consumption, I would end up again with ancient fuel. We've had the boat out several times now and so far, so good.
Any comments, discussion about not filling the tank, etc. would certainly be appreciated. I hope my experience will be helpful to others here.
I pulled the racor filter(R24S), dumping its fuel into a container and took both up to the repair shop and luckily ran into the mechanic. He took one look at the filter and examined the fuel I brought, and we agreed the fuel didn't even smell like diesel and had already fouled the filter. So, he got all the fuel pumped out of the tank and said he pulled up lots of gunk from the bottom. After replacing both filters again and bleeding the engine, we got it going again. I put a total of six gallons in the 15 gallon tank. He advised using Sta-bil every time new fuel is put in and also a dose for winterizing. He also said not to fill the tank because, with my small amount of seasonal consumption, I would end up again with ancient fuel. We've had the boat out several times now and so far, so good.
Any comments, discussion about not filling the tank, etc. would certainly be appreciated. I hope my experience will be helpful to others here.
