Almost lost a bus nut tonight

[belfert]

I wish I had some good news recently.  I know now why I never became a mechanic as I'd be fired after the first shift.  I got got so discouraged after my problems this evening that I contemplated quitting this great hobby of ours for about 10 or 15 minutes.  But, I thought better of it after a bit.

I had to remove the primary fuel filter on my Series 60 to reattach the drain line for my DN50 alternator this evening.  I read both my Dina maintainance manual and the Series 60 maintainance manual beforehand.  Both said just to shut the valve at the secondary filter.  I did so and proceeded to remove the primary filter.  While removing the filter I dropped it in the dirt so I had to replace it instead of reuse it like I planned.  Fuel streamed from the filter base the entire time the filter was off.  Fuel filled the oil pan I was using so I had to scramble to find one 5 gallon bucket and then another.  It took about 20 to 30 minutes total to reattach the hose, find the spare filter, move the base from old filter to new, and reattach filter.  In that time I lost about 8 gallons of fuel.

I was completely covered in diesel fuel after all this so I decided to quit for the evening.  I need to call MCI/Dina tomorrow to figure out why fuel continued to flow with valve off.

I'm really hoping for a good post tomorrow evening.   I plan to put in 7 or 8 hours tomorrow and hopefully I will have a running bus at the end of the day.  I'm seriously running out of time as my trip is in 11 or 12 days.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Jeeze Brian...

That literally Stinks!   Diesel fuel lingers for a while.... By tomorrow, you will be sick of the smell.

Hope you have a better day after a good shower and some sleep.

Good Luck
Nick-

[buswarrior]

the cologne of busnuts?

chin up, soldier! Tomorrow is another chance to drop more stuff in the dirt.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[NJT5047]

Welcome to Diesel Mechanic 101!    Every day's another chance for a "diesel shower"...I got one last July the 4th.  Pumping fuel into the coach and some mega-babe walked by and ole Goober here let the fuel nozzle slip out of the filler.  REALLY BIG mistake.  Man did I make a mess!  Covered my @$$ with fuel.  I have strap to throw thru the nozzle, but didn't use it...just topping the thing off. 
Got enough fuel off to get the bus moved from the pump island, backed it into the truck parking area and took a shower.   Sorry start, but the rest of the trip was uneventful.
Just remember, you're on a learning curve and learning fast.  It gets better, and you'll be amazed at what you've learned about S60 engines.   You'll soon be our resident $60 expert!
Don't expect to totally remove the diesel fuel smell for a couple of days.
BTW, is your Golf a diesel?  If so, that sucker's getting valuable!
Fuel is getting ready to spike upward again...or so it looks. 
Good luck with your trip out west....hate it, but you've missed Burning Man!      JR

[kyle4501]

. . . and some mega-babe walked by  . . . .

You need to tell the wife to stay inside 'till you're done with the messy/dangerous stuff.     

[maria-n-skip]

Brian,

   After 25 yrs+ dealing with diesels it becomes a way of life. Like being away from home
for a while and that first feeling and smell when you first walk in the door. Life is good
and right with the universe. When you get to that point spilling diesel or that dark gooey
oil the only thing that goes through you mind is I wonder how long this is going to take
and clean up. I been known to use diesel to float engine oil off the floor for cleaning,
reality is I just like the smell.

  You won't have to worry about weeds for a while.

Skip

[Busted Knuckle]

Brian,
The reason the fuel kept flowing is because the shut off valve is after the secondary filter (smart design... huh?), and is there to make sure the fuel doesn't all drain down out of the engine/injection system! On a stock unit there is no shut off valve between the tank and primary filter, and the flowing fuel was just flowing from the tank on a gravity feed! Guess what I do ? That's right add a shut off valve ahead off the filters! Now ya know!
  BK 

[Sam 4106]

One way to remove fuel smell from your clothing is to use Borax along with your laundry detergent. I got that tip from the wife of the local fuel truck driver. It may also work on a person, but it may be too abrasive for that.
Good luck, Sam 4106

[NewbeeMC9]

JR,  we need to see if that station caught that on the security video!!   Definetely a You-tuber.


Brian,

Welcome to Hard Knocks University.  At least your attending and learning.  sometimes teaching and researching.


Helpful hint on fuel smell,  wash with oilbased soap like octagon, rubdown good with babyoil, wash baby oil off again.

[belfert]

I think I actually got 99% of the diesel smell off me.  When I showered last night I used shampoo on my arms since diesel is an oil and shampoo removes oil from hair.  My clothes I washed with dawn dishwashing soap.  (The plain regular non-ultra kind.)

I got diesel all over the plug for the heating element in my Racor fuel fuel filter.  How should I clean that off?

[NJT5047]

Helpful hint on fuel smell,  wash with oilbased soap like octagon, rubdown good with babyoil, wash baby oil off again 

HELLO...Now there's an idea! Jon, you forgot the part that states: repeat as neccessary.     
JR

[Busted Knuckle]

I got diesel all over the plug for the heating element in my Racor fuel fuel filter.  How should I clean that off?

Get some "Spray Power*" and heavily soak it, then rinse with water! "Spray Power*" is available at WalMart & Menard's in the regular house hold cleaning supplies area! Great stuff, if you remember when you were here last yr we used it to clean the oil off the back of yer bus!
  BK 

[NewbeeMC9]

Helpful hint on fuel smell,  wash with oilbased soap like octagon, rubdown good with babyoil, wash baby oil off again 

HELLO...Now there's an idea! Jon, you forgot the part that states: repeat as neccessary.     
JR

Yeah, didn't want him to get carried away, might start likin' it and not know when to stop , we don't want him to miss another trip

[CS]

Yep that would be the last straw for me!! If I were you i'd sell the d@#% thing!
Yep thats right sell it and really fast before you change your mind, better yet I'd sell it to the person who gave you this advice for $100 just to show it who's boss!

P.S. I'll come and get it just to save you the trouble of delivering it.

[Busted Knuckle]

Yep that would be the last straw for me!! If I were you i'd sell the d@#% thing!
Yep thats right sell it and really fast before you change your mind, better yet I'd sell it to the person who gave you this advice for $100 just to show it who's boss!

P.S. I'll come and get it just to save you the trouble of delivering it.

Whoa Big Fella,
The MAK $ limit on advertising is $50.00 & also it's against the rules to SELL the whole bus, you can give it away, but not sell it!
So in light of that I'll take it Brian, and even pay for your fuel to deliver it! LOL!   BK