Vindicator will not power up!

[daselbee]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

If I just unhook the fuel line from the pump, and hook up there I should be able to run straight fuel and not have to premix correct?
Or is the mixing of the fuel/oil taking place someplace other than the engine?
It appears I have seperate lines running to the pump on the side of the engine.

Why are you unhooking at the fuel pump? But if so, yes, the fuel and oil are mixed inside the VRO2 fuel pump. There is an oil line, and a fuel line to the pump.
If you use a remote tank, remember that you need 3/8 in. line and plumbing all the way from the remote tank to the engine. If your remote tank has a 1/4 in. pickup inside it....even if you use 3/8 from the tank to the engine, you will not provide enough gas flow at WOT. You can't use the quick disconnect at a six gallon tank, for example. You will get a horn warning I bet, as well as inconsistent results.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

Yeah dingbat!!!! Very likely...What does this phase separated alcohol and water look like?
My water sep has a transparent bowl, so I want to know what to look for...

You can't really tell by just looking. Drain the filter and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Out on the water I had a clear liquid on top of what looked like soda water.

At home, I ended up with soda water under a cloudy looking amber gas

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

Why are you unhooking at the fuel pump? But if so, yes, the fuel and oil are mixed inside the VRO2 fuel pump. There is an oil line, and a fuel line to the pump.

Where should I hook the external tank into?

If you use a remote tank, remember that you need 3/8 in. line and plumbing all the way from the remote tank to the engine. If your remote tank has a 1/4 in. pickup inside it....even if you use 3/8 from the tank to the engine, you will not provide enough gas flow at WOT.

Would it be enough to do one quick blast though? Not prolonged WOT, Just a few seconds to see if it will pull power?

You can't use the quick disconnect at a six gallon tank, for example. You will get a horn warning I bet, as well as inconsistent results.

I also just spoke with a guy who said MAYBE it COULD be a sensor shutting the engine into a safe mode?? I know my Duramax Diesel has a Limp mode, for both engine and trans that will allow you to limp home, or to a service dept, but does this have anything remotly like that?

Again, what about the coil pack lead wire being corroded, could that contribute?

I am heading back to the lake this afternoon or tomorrow am to see if I jiggled any wire, carb cleaning, or anything I have done so far might have helped it.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

I don't know how your fuel line is plumbed, but I just figured you would disconnect the line at the output of the water sep. and connect to an external tank. It would just be natural to me to do it that way, that's all.
You keep your primer bulb, tho, and that could be the problem...
I just never like to introduce a whole lot of variables at one time when testing.
About the "one quick blast", I guess you could sure try it.

That guy is talking about the temp sensors. You would have a hot light if one of the temp sensors is stuck electrically closed. That's what we referred to earlier about the 2500 rpm limit and the shaking. S.L.O.W. mode.
To eliminate this as an issue, you can pull apart the temp sensor leads at the top of each head, the tan wires on each side. They have a large black rubber in-line connector and are located very close to the thermostat covers.
Won't hurt to run with them disconnected for testing, but your overheat warning is disabled at that time.

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

Gotcha!!!

Off to the lake with the info at hand, will report back with what if anything different I find out!

 

[jonesg]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

The potshot approach is one way,

I prefer to baseline and eliminate problem areas in a systematic way.

Get a guage and get the compression numbers.
Spark gap test it, should jump 7/16th inch gap.
Bypass fuel tank and external filters, use a new portable tank with new line and bulb.

One of these tests should point the way.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

Yes, I agree 100% with jonesg.
That's why he is looking completely through the fuel system first, and not potshotting everything, I think.
I tend to think it is fuel related because it is fresh out of winter storage, and the fuel system is vulnerable then....gumming, clogs, pump, air leaks, stale fuel, etc.
If the fuel system checks out, by all means proceed with the next baseline step of your choice...

 

[daselbee]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

I sure hope he comes back and posts tonight regarding the testing he is doing tonight with new gas.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

I guess he musta sunk.....

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

Nope Never took it off the trailer, but I am sold on the fact it is BAD FUEL.

I will let you know when I get it drained, and refilled with fresh fuel.

I attached a secondary fuel tank, drained and purged the carbs and fuel lines, and ran it, and it ran MUCH Better, so I called off the run and came home.
Broke a leaf spring on the way, so now something else to fix............

BTW, I have been a mechanic since I can remember, I overhauled my dads tractor at age 10 with Very little guidence, and worked for car repair places and tractoer repair places till I joined the Air Force. I took a small reprieve from mechanicing to play Combat Controll, till I was disqualified from Jumping, then I went to be a C-130, 141, C-17 Mechanic for the next 19 years. I retired from the AF and worked for a civilian company for a few more years so troubleshooting is not alien to me.

Will post WHEN I FIND out more!

 

[jonesg]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

"I will cling to my Religion, Guns, Money, Morals, Common Sense and you can keep your change. "

hehehe I like it.
It probably will be fuel, I had 20% water in my tank when I got my boat, no knowing where it had been. My truck gobbled the gas up.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

Hey, Tolli,
Check your Private Messages...
Got a question for you offline...

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

I completly drained the boat, and purged the ENTIRE Fuel system all the way from the tank to the carbs. The fuel has topped off the wifes truck, and the gas cans for the lawnmowers and tractor. It smells fine, looks fine, but the boat ran better on the makeshift tank I put on it, so I am going this route for now.

If this does not do it, well then back the the next step.

I did disconnect the overheat stuff, made no difference.

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

daselbee,

PM Sent

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

I have not had a chance to fuel up and put it in the water yet.

Just an update

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

OK, I FINALLY got rid of the house guests from Hell and finally able to put the boat in the water.

Still the same problem with NEW FRESH GAS.

SO with that said, what about the fuel pump? I pumped the squeeze bulb hard while running the engine, but it just feved to like 3500 and then quickly back down to 2600. Wouldn't the squeeze bulb apply the pressure needed like the fuel pump?

I am scratching my head, I figure it is something simple, I just have to find the simple thing......

Any inputs would be helpful!

Thanks for all the reply so far...

John

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

OK, After the plugs, Filter, Fuel, and everything else checked or replaced I am at wits end.

The engine is at full throttle, registering 2200 rpm's and occasionally skipping up to 2400-2500 rpm's then immediatly back to 2100-2200 rpm's. I am squeezing the bulb for all it is worth, the carbs are clean, and getting PLENTY of fuel so I am guessing it is spark related now.

Any takers on this?

HELP?

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

Here is my thinking.... The engine seems to hit a rev limiter, and the fuel system is FINE so I am tearing the top of the engine off to get to that ignition 2 step thing and clean it, and make sure it checks out with the ohm meter because of the way the engine acts at WOT it is trying to go but just won't.

What do you guys think?

Have you given up on this post?

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

Oh yea, a friend came by yesterday with his boat with a 2 cylinder Suzuki on it that he said would not run, I said it is crude in the carb and I would show him, and I took the carb off and showed him the booger clogging the jets, cleaned everything reassembled and he left with it PURRING Like a kitten....

I know my way around engines, and I know mechanics, I just need help with the components of this Vindicator, I have a book, and that is why I decided it is entirely ignition at this point, and will focus ONly there for now, because the ENTIRE fuel system has been done over.

 

[Tolliwacker]

Re: Vindicator will not power up!

Well it turned out to be the timer base....