Fuel Troubles --Again!

[pabusnut]

We went camping about 1-1/2 weeks ago for a long weekend about 2 hrs away.  Bus ran OK, but seemed to "stumble" at the start--like the fuel filters were plugging up.  It was only about a 2 hr drive, and the bus seemed to run OK at speed.  I fueled up on the way there, so the tank was full then.  On the way home it got worse, so I made a note to change both filters.

So the day after I get home, my mechanic calls and says now is a good time to bring the bus up to install the Jakes, as business is slow, and I have already paid for the parts, but not the service yet.  So I take Saturday to cut out the center section of the tailgate so the tall valve covers will fit.  I also went about changing both fuel filters, and cleaning the oil bath air cleaner(which was filthy, and might not have been cleaned like forever--yes--smack me now!).

On the two hour trip(normally 1-1/2 hours, but a bridge is closed, hence a 30 mile detour), the bus didn't seem to run any better, and in fact worse at slow speeds, but OK on the highway at 60 or so, and/or at high RPM in any gear. 
My mechanic installed the Jakes, but to test, he was feeding the engine from a fuel can and getting 60 psi.  He got called away to something else, but is going to check the line back to the tank.  I did install a check valve that was 1/4" vs the factory 3/8", but I don't think that should affect it this much.  If it were "sucking air" from a hole rubbed in the fuel line somewhere, I don't think that it would keep prime or run at higher RPMS.
Any thoughts---short of running new fuel lines?

Thanks!

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut




Any thoughts

[eagle19952]

 I did install a check valve that was 1/4" vs the factory 3/8"....

yes. i think it would.

at 2200 rpm matbe not but it could still run lean.. which would be bad too.

[pabusnut]

OK,  Bryon and his son Chris found the fuel problem, and it wasn't the check valve.  Apparently the only place the steel fuel lines are exposed to the elements are above the rear axle, which of course is where the supply line had a rust spot which turned out to be a pinhole. 

They repaired it, and now with the Jakes I should be able to go up hills faster and down hills more safely than before. 

I will pick it up on Monday but the only sad part is that the trip is almost all on level ground back to my house so I may have to detour a little bit to see how the Jakes work.

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut

[Brian Diehl]

Jakes are still nice without hills - just sayin....

[PP]

Steve, even if you never find a hill to go down, you're going to have fun with the Jakes. Trust me,
Will

[Dave5Cs]

Whats a set of jakes installed run anyway?

[luvrbus]

All depends on what you pay for the Jakes,but it takes about 8 hrs of labor JMO buying a used set I would not install a set with out rebuilding the entire set, with a new wiring harness under the valve covers and with a new buffer switch  

There are several different stages of rebuild kits also from a 100 to 500 bucks to answer your ? it can be expensive around 2 grand +or -  

I saw the invoice for the new set of Jakes John 316 had installed on the 60 series in the bus I have you could by a converted bus for DD charged but they work good 

[pabusnut]

I paid $950 for the jakes and another $400 to install, not including the work on the fuel system.

If these Jakes needed rebuilt, Byron would have recommended it.  That is the type of guy he is.

Steve