Lombardini diesel engine fuel filter 3 way

[chrismac]

I have a lombardini engine which at the moment wont start, the fuel filter looks pretty mucky, infact when I blew it back I could see big particles in it, I think this is blocking the fuel, it has 3 ports, one from the leak of line also ties back in, as a temporary measure can I just block the return pipe to the filter, it will return to the tank, and add a 2 port filter to see if it fires up, thats my plan for tomorrow unless advised not too.
Thanks

 

[chrismac]

To add the this thread, this is a bit strange, I thought diesel engines were bomb proof, this lombardini/kohler is not keen to start at all, its getting fuel, I pulled the injector and turned it up the way and can see the 4 jets spraying out, I cant test the compression as my compression tester wont fit, it also has an auto-decompression thing fitted, I put a whiff of lighter fluid close to the intake and it does think about firing but not any sign of picking up on its diesel, can diesel go off?
Once I get the new fuel filter home I'll treat it to new fuel and clean the tank out, I dont think anyone has been in about it to change timing of anything so thats will hopefully still be as factory,

Any pointers much appreciated,

https://www.tradebit.com/usr/snowing/pub/9002/275091888_snowing.jpg

 

[not done it yet]

Injection equipment is made to exceedingly fine tolerances. Don’t skimp on the fuel filters. Dirty fuel is a killer for pumps and injectors.

 

[Nomad]

I'm more familiar with petrol motors but things I learned recently working on a diesel camper that had been standing :
There's no problem disconnecting the fuel return line and running it into a temporary catch can (I'm using a plastic 15L container, just make sure you stop the engine and pour the contents into the fuel tank before it overflows).
Has anything been disturbed or altered since it last ran? Pump timing etc...

How old is the fuel? Google Diesel bug https://www.fueltek.co.uk/what-is-the-diesel-bug-and-how-can-you-avoid-it/
Check the glowplug timer & glowplugs ( a couple of mine are dead..)
Use a known good battery or a jump start so it spins over quickly.
I've been told fuel filters on an unknown engine should be replaced but mine is working ok with the original filter.
A shot of Easystart into the intake helped to get mine to fire, after a few burst it cleared (pump pulled all the air from the lines?) and the motor ran fine with no help.

Fuel shut-off solenoids can cause problems but I'd say yours is working ok as you're seeing jets of fuel from the injectors.
In my case a big part of the problem was air in the system but it sounds like you're already past this stage.
Good luck and keep us updated

 

[chrismac]

I drained the tank tonight, its not very appetising the red diesel I drained out it, I'll wait for the fuel filter to come home, flush the tank out and fingers crossed.... but I am not holding out for it to fire into life.

The fuel is donkeys old 5 years plus I would say, could even be double that, totally unsure though. no electronics on this, pull start unfortunately, although its not too bad to spin over, but it does get a bit tiring after a while, really interested to see how its starts when set up right.

I am pretty sure where its been no one would have had the thought to open to up and change the internals, timing and so on.

Thanks for the replies, I'll report back.

 

[Nomad]

I'm still running my engine on a temporary fuel tank (15Lt plastic container), there's a feed pipe from there to the filter, and the return line goes back into the same temp tank. At least I know it's getting fresh fuel...
For yours I'd say remove the tank and pour the contents into a container and take it to the tip / recycling center

 

[chrismac]

Mmmmm more work required, new filter / change and flush of fuel and tank, still not keen to fire, when I get a chance I'll get a look at the pump timing, I even poured a small amount of oil in the bore (like the old petters) but no change and no help, never made a difference.

 

[addjunkie]

Mmmmm more work required, new filter / change and flush of fuel and tank, still not keen to fire, when I get a chance I'll get a look at the pump timing, I even poured a small amount of oil in the bore (like the old petters) but no change and no help, never made a difference.

Did you prime right through to the injector after draining….air in fuel lines isnt good for starting.

 

[chrismac]

Did you prime right through to the injector after draining….air in fuel lines isnt good for starting.

I did spin it over until the fuel came out the injector fitting and nipped it up then,

 

[not done it yet]

I suspect this is a ‘new-to-you’ engine? If so, it may just be worn out. Compression is very important for diesels, as is temperature. Is there a cold-start device?

You could try feeding it with hot air, starting with propane feed into the inlet with the air, heating the cylinder head - all tricks to get them started. Have you tried diesel starting sprays?

If if starts with use of diesel engine starter fluid, I would expect the engine requires an overhaul.

 

[chrismac]

I suspect this is a ‘new-to-you’ engine? If so, it may just be worn out. Compression is very important for diesels, as is temperature. Is there a cold-start device?

You could try feeding it with hot air, starting with propane feed into the inlet with the air, heating the cylinder head - all tricks to get them started. Have you tried diesel starting sprays?

If if starts with use of diesel engine starter fluid, I would expect the engine requires an overhaul.

Thanks, yes new to me, 20 years old on a compressor, I cant see it being worked to death where it has been but take heed of your advice, there is no cold start, plus an automatic decompression device which makes cranking slightly easier but you get no feel for compression then, I'll try a hot air gun on the head and into the intake to see if that get any excitement out of it, all I had to hand was some lighter fluid which I have given a small blast in the intake and it has picked up and fired but not on its own diesel I would say it just faded out after a couple of revolutions.

I'll have to do a few more checks to confirm things are where they should be.

 

[Morrisman]

I’ve had an old yacht motor that would only start if wd40 was shot down it’s gullet when starting up. Once warmed up it ran okay, and would restart, but when left to go cold it was dead as a dodo, until wd40 was sprayed again.

I stripped it down and it became obvious the bores were well and truly tatered, big wear ridge etc.

The only available spares were a set of original size piston rings. I set to with a flap wheel, electric drill, and a couple of sets of honing stone ‘glaze busters’.

Once I’d removed the wear ridge, and honed the bores out endlessly, it went back together, with the new rings, and started and ran quite well. I forget what motor it was, some obscure 3 cylinder diseasel.

 

[Nomad]

I did spin it over until the fuel came out the injector fitting and nipped it up then,

I did the same. It took quite a few more attempts at starting before the first cylinder kicked in - once a couple were firing the last ones soon fired up (after clearing the last of the air in the injector bodies?). Maybe just have a quick try at starting it every time you go past, doing it with fresh muscles might help. A quick shot of easy start or similar with the air filter removed is also worth doing. Keep us updated

 

[finyuk2005]

I did the same. It took quite a few more attempts at starting before the first cylinder kicked in - once a couple were firing the last ones soon fired up (after clearing the last of the air in the injector bodies?). Maybe just have a quick try at starting it every time you go past, doing it with fresh muscles might help. A quick shot of easy start or similar with the air filter removed is also worth doing. Keep us updated

easy start gets a bad name, but it can be a very useful tool!, especially on older diesels!
Did a simple fuel filter change on an older john deere tractor, really wished i had a can of easy start, just to get it kicking over fast enough to pull fuel through!
was there with my van running connected with jump leads, cranking for ages before the damn thing would fire!

 

[Blobber]

I prefer a bit of brake cleaner for starting if needed, lead to believe its a bit gentler on the engines?

 

[finyuk2005]

I prefer a bit of brake cleaner for starting if needed, lead to believe its a bit gentler on the engines?

not sure, but i think easy start has some form of lubricants in it as well as ether to make it a bit kinder? who knows, as long as you dont go too mental with it it surely wont hurt!

 

[Nomad]

A friend often ends up with projects that have been parked up for many years - his advice was that any accelerant would work - hairspray is cheapest and available almost anywhere (which I why I have a couple of cans in the workshop & the retro that's often parked up for months at a time just in case anyone was wondering..)

 

[Mick Annick]

easy start gets a bad name, but it can be a very useful tool!, especially on older diesels!
Did a simple fuel filter change on an older john deere tractor, really wished i had a can of easy start, just to get it kicking over fast enough to pull fuel through!
was there with my van running connected with jump leads, cranking for ages before the damn thing would fire!

We were never allowed to use it when I was an apprentice - the company reckoned it broke piston rings meaning the motor would then be hooked on it forever, judging by the state of some of the owner-driver trucks we looked after I can believe it.

 

[qwakers]

We were never allowed to use it when I was an apprentice - the company reckoned it broke piston rings meaning the motor would then be hooked on it forever, judging by the state of some of the owner-driver trucks we looked after I can believe it.

that's bunk. its simply that a worn engine that needs it will never get more compression, so it will always need it. some people are rather too good at confusing causation with correlation...

 

[Mick Annick]

that's bunk. its simply that a worn engine that needs it will never get more compression, so it will always need it. some people are rather too good at confusing causation with correlation...

I know, but as a spotty 16 year old apprentice I sucked it up!