Newbie problem with Metro 6/1

[JimG]

Hello folks. I was a member before, maybe the old forum, but anyhow, I need some advice.

I have a Metro 6/1 that I bought about 3 years ago. I stored it in garage and last week decided to get off my butt and get it going.  I had previously cleaned it and lubed it, but since it has been so long, I cleaned and lubed again. I knew I would have to prime the fuel system, because I had taken the filter apart and did a cleaning on it as well. So, I start at tank, then filter, down to pump, up to injector and fuel flowed clean, no air. OK, time to give it a crank. Check list completed, let's fire her up. A few spins later and off we go with that one lunger thumpin away just like it is supposed to. It ran perfect. I was excited and even though no one was around, I was still proud. I ran it a few minutes, then shut it down.  My youngest son came home and I showed him, and even let him have the honors of cranking the handle, and pow, it thumped away just like before.  After shut down, I decided to turn the fuel lever to the off position. OK, jump ahead a few hours when my oldest son got home from work. We decided to crank it up and fire her off. I spun her up, and it started running, then died. I scratched my head, then saw and remembered that I shut the fuel off. I cranked her again and it started running and immediately died. I figured I must have somehow got air into fuel delivery system again so decided to wait till morning and bleed and prime again. I have bled and primed all day to no avail. All lines are open, I checked filter again, took the fuel control valve off and made sure air is out, put it back together and went to the injector fitting and loosened it and I have not been able to get a clean flow of fuel from the pump to the injector. It keeps spitting air bubbles. I have carefully gone through all of this about five times today, but cannot get a good flow without air in the line.  I have got to be overlooking a newbie mistake or oversight, but I'm not sure where to start to get this solved. Can anyone suggest what I am overlooking?  I keep thinking I sucked a vaccume and screwed something up. Any help would be appreciated.
Jim

[Aberdonion]

Hello: I hate to suggest this, but do you have fuel in the tank?

[dieselgman]

Excellent place to start! Fill her up - just in case. Actually it sounds like you have a handle on priming the system. Go at it with fresh eyes and don't assume anything. You will find it IS something minor and easy. Spitting bubbles indicates an air induction happening somewhere along the fuel system. When we tackle a problem starter, we often will put in an electric boost pump to be certain all air is being expelled and then just gradually work through all the connections in the system.

dieselgman

[Combustor]

Hello JimG,
              Something I learned the other day, and worth a look. The delivery valve in the top fitting of the fuel pump can stick in its guide, or get foreign matter under its seat, and then there is no way that it will then prime or pump reliably. Hold the valve body with one spanner while undoing the injector line with another, (reverse process when refitting), remove valve body and spring. Valve should lift out freely. If sticky,blow out residual fuel with air, and use a solvent, acetone etc. to free it. Valve should lift and turn freely. Replace spring and valve body and tighten firmly. Repeat priming procedure. Hope this helps,  Combustor.

[ronmar]

Was this the first time fuel was in it?  If so, this is not an unusual scenario.  I had it happen to me, and have read about it several times also.  The indian rubber fuel line between tank and filter is loaded with air bubbles upon the first fillup/startup(fuel does not completely wet the hose inner surface).  As the engine runs a little, all this air shakes loose and migrates to the IP.  I only got a few minutes of run time out of mine initially, then it started to misfire.  When i shut it down, it would not restart.

Magic jack educated me on what was happening and he said to take a screwdriver handle and thump on the rubber fuel line for a little while and re-bleed the system.

Oh, a hint on the rebleed.  Perhaps you already know this, but it is way easier to rock the flywheel back and forth across the injection stroke instead of cranking it for 2 revolutions to get a single IP stroke:)

Good Luck...

[38ac]

Not sure if the vacuam pull does something weird to the pump or what but I had the same problem when I ran our 25/2 without opening the shut off and ran it until it died. I had one heck of a time getting it to prime back up also I ended up having to do what Combustor said and loosen up the delivery valve to get my system re primed.  Once I had fuel at the pump outlet the rest primed up quickly.  I have primed up several engines from completely dry and never had problems like I had with that one?

[38ac]

Oh, a hint on the rebleed.  Perhaps you already know this, but it is way easier to rock the flywheel back and forth across the injection stroke instead of cranking it for 2 revolutions to get a single IP stroke:)

Good Luck...

How 'bout I not tell you how many turns I cranked that 25/2 to get pit primed back up     

Thanks for that simple tip!!,,,,, I cant beleive how 'tupid I am at times.

[JimG]

Good day gents,
I read all your replies and I am going to look at everything fresh this morning. Thanks for the suggestions and support. Yep, I had fuel, I did the fuel line shake and rattle, I am going to look at the valve again and clean, clean, clean again. It appears to be free of any grit or grime and moves freely, but will check again, reassemble and give her a go again. I will give an update soon as I have gone through everything again. Thanks again,
Jim

[JimG]

Well, I went through all the priming sequence again and I kept getting micro bubbles from the pump. I was perplexed so I took it apart again and cleaned the seat that the valve rides in again, still a micro bubble now and again, so I hooked up the fuel line to the injector and tried to see if I could get fuel to flow. I had to put my finger over the hole and prime it and fuel flowed out so I hooked it up and tried a start, and low and behold it fired up. Now I am wondering if I had a little air lock and the siphon priming caused it to go through. Anyhow, it ran great. I stopped it and did a little cleaning, then tried another start up and it fired right up like it is supposed to.
Thanks for the encouragement and the things to look for.  I guess fresh eyes and some sleep helped out,
Jim