Bus quit running

lawful · February 19, 2016, 05:41:24 PM

After more than 3 years in storage (inside, Western AZ) I put two new 8D batteries in and hit the starter in my 1966 GM 4107 with a Detroit 6V92 TA motor. To my amazement it started on the first turn and aired up, only to die after idling about five minutes. Although there's plenty of fuel in the tank, it's acting like it ran out of fuel. It has two fuel filters mounted high in the passenger side of the engine compartment, and I only got maybe an ounce of fuel out of both of them when I opened their drains. Any suggestions on what to do at this point?
John Johnc.churchill@gmail.com

Dave5Cs · February 19, 2016, 05:50:42 PM

Sounds like you lost prime. Try filling the filters up with diesel and prime the system then try starting it. Also change both your filters they are probably plugged up.
Dave5

bigred · February 20, 2016, 02:07:04 AM

This new diesel and Ethanol gas are the worst things in the world to plug every thing up after sitting for a few months.I would also throw a good treatment of Lucas diesel treatment in to that fuel tank!

Seangie · February 20, 2016, 02:28:37 AM

Quote from: lawful on February 19, 2016, 05:41:24 PM
After more than 3 years in storage (inside, Western AZ) I put two new 8D batteries in and hit the starter in my 1966 GM 4107 with a Detroit 6V92 TA motor. To my amazement it started on the first turn and aired up, only to die after idling about five minutes. Although there's plenty of fuel in the tank, it's acting like it ran out of fuel. It has two fuel filters mounted high in the passenger side of the engine compartment, and I only got maybe an ounce of fuel out of both of them when I opened their drains. Any suggestions on what to do at this point?
John Johnc.churchill@gmail.com

Replace both fuel filters and reprime. See if that doesn't get it started. Repriming can be a pain. Get a gallon sized garden sprayer and connect it to your secondary and pump away.

Let us know how it turns out...

-Sean

Oonrahnjay · February 20, 2016, 03:46:02 AM

Quote from: bigred on February 20, 2016, 02:07:04 AM
This new diesel and Ethanol gas are the worst things in the world to plug every thing up after sitting for a few months.I would also throw a good treatment of Lucas diesel treatment in to that fuel tank!

Quote from: Seangie on February 20, 2016, 02:28:37 AM
Replace both fuel filters and reprime. See if that doesn't get it started. Repriming can be a pain. Get a gallon sized garden sprayer and connect it to your secondary and pump away.

Let us know how it turns out...

-Sean

Yeah, and when I had the filters out, I'd check them carefully for any signs of gooey black powder in the filter material -- it you have that, it's mold and that's a sign of water in the fuel. The Lucas treatment is good for this and there are other treatments that are specifically formulated to kill mold in fuel -- "Bio-cide" is one. http://powerservice.com/psp_product/bio-kleen-diesel-fuel-biocide/

And, yes, priming is a pain but it's but you have to get all the air out of the filters and the fuel lines to/ on the engine.

luvrbus · February 20, 2016, 03:48:35 AM

You won't have fungus in a fuel tank in AZ Bruce to damn hot for it to survive

,I don't know where he is located in Western AZ but if he is close to me I could lend him a priming setup

lawful · February 20, 2016, 04:47:01 AM

Thanks kindly for the advice. I'm not much of a mechanic, and the lines to the fuel filters look like a drunken octopus to me. I'm assuming that by "secondary" you're referring to one of the fuel filters, not sure yet which one. They are both mounted higher than the tank (which is about 25 feet away, behind the right front tire). When I figure out which is which, replace the filters, clean and fill their receptacles with fuel, should I then remove the fuel line going from that filter to the engine and "pressurize" that line with new fuel (by connecting that line to a garden sprayer, temporary electric fuel pump or the like) turn her over until she fires up (hopefully), reconnect to the (secondary) filter and keep my fingers crossed? Do I dare shut the engine down while reconnecting back to the secondary filter? Sorry if these questions seem idiotic. I'm in Parker, AZ, incidentally.
John

luvrbus · February 20, 2016, 04:59:59 AM

No just change and fill both filters and remove the plug in top of the base on the primary filter then pump a couple of gals of fuel through it will fire you are not going to build much pressure the fuel will return to the tank. It's important you keep the system sealed removing a line is a place to allow air to enter the system. When it does fire give it about 1/2 throttle for a few minutes or it may do it again (lose prime). Parker is 80 miles from me or I would come help you

chessie4905 · February 20, 2016, 05:05:01 AM

Geez Cliff.....out west 80 miles is only a good stretch of the legs.

luvrbus · February 20, 2016, 05:16:09 AM

LOL I hate that drive John not even a jack rabbit to be seen from Needles to Vidal Junction

lawful · February 20, 2016, 05:59:05 AM

Cliff:
If you would help me get my bus running, I would happily drive up to Needles and pick you up and bring you back, buy you lunch/dinner, and a bottle of good wine.
John

Oonrahnjay · February 20, 2016, 06:11:43 AM

Quote from: lawful on February 20, 2016, 05:59:05 AM
Cliff:
If you would help me get my bus running, I would happily drive up to Needles and pick you up and bring you back, buy you lunch/dinner, and a bottle of good wine.
John

80 "Western" miles == 45 minutes!

lawful · February 20, 2016, 06:33:52 AM

OK. I'll up the ante. I will fly up to Needles and pick you up, still buy lunch/dinner, and then fly you back. It's about a 20 minute flight, and you wouldn't have to look for jackrabbits.
John

Dave5Cs · February 20, 2016, 06:44:40 AM

Oh this is going to be interesting!...

Dave

lostagain · February 20, 2016, 07:11:36 AM

Lawful John, fuel is sucked from the tank to the primary filter, then to the pump. Then is pushed to the secondary filter, then to one head, then the other, then back to the tank. A lot of fuel goes through the injectors without burning to cool them and is pushed back to the tank. So, follow the lines.

Picking up Clifford would be a good day too.

JC