americanmcss
Seaman
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2012
- Messages
- 58
Good Morning All,
I have the 5.0L Merc Alpha One Gen One in my boat (serial number is in the 0D Range) and last winter we went ahead and put a new long block in her and reconned the outdrive. There were cracks in the water jackets from lack of drainage on the p/o's part. The worst part about the situation was that the engine was spotless on the inside! Probably had been rebuilt once before and had 100 hours worth of use. Anyway, during the engine drop in we (as in the three owners, myself, my father, and my brother-in-law) decided that the standard mechanical fuel pump was working properly...and it has...
My beef is with how long it has to crank before firing after sitting for more than an hour. I have been over the fuel system personally and there is no external check valve to prevent drain back. I'm guessing that the fuel pump is supposed to keep the fuel lines full up to the carb to help with starting? I don't like cranking a starter for more than 10-15 seconds at a time, even one that is rated for "marine duty" whatever that might mean...
What I would like to do, and have researched more in the on road department vs marine, is to add an electric fuel lift pump from between the tank to the filter housing. Its a short trip and easily accessed. I work in the Agricultural Machinery field and one thing I've noticed is that the fuel pump is typically placed upstream of the fuel filter, or there is an electric lift or transfer pump that sends fuel from the tank to the filter and from the filter to either a mechanical pump on the engine or directly to the fuel injection pump (on diesel engines).
I'd put a coarse fuel strainer before the pump to keep debris out of it of course but I feel like it would start easier if the fuel was pressurized through the main filter to the mechanical pump. Low pressure of course +/- 3psi.
Has anyone done this on an older carbbed engine before? Any other thoughts?\
Thanks
I have the 5.0L Merc Alpha One Gen One in my boat (serial number is in the 0D Range) and last winter we went ahead and put a new long block in her and reconned the outdrive. There were cracks in the water jackets from lack of drainage on the p/o's part. The worst part about the situation was that the engine was spotless on the inside! Probably had been rebuilt once before and had 100 hours worth of use. Anyway, during the engine drop in we (as in the three owners, myself, my father, and my brother-in-law) decided that the standard mechanical fuel pump was working properly...and it has...
My beef is with how long it has to crank before firing after sitting for more than an hour. I have been over the fuel system personally and there is no external check valve to prevent drain back. I'm guessing that the fuel pump is supposed to keep the fuel lines full up to the carb to help with starting? I don't like cranking a starter for more than 10-15 seconds at a time, even one that is rated for "marine duty" whatever that might mean...
What I would like to do, and have researched more in the on road department vs marine, is to add an electric fuel lift pump from between the tank to the filter housing. Its a short trip and easily accessed. I work in the Agricultural Machinery field and one thing I've noticed is that the fuel pump is typically placed upstream of the fuel filter, or there is an electric lift or transfer pump that sends fuel from the tank to the filter and from the filter to either a mechanical pump on the engine or directly to the fuel injection pump (on diesel engines).
I'd put a coarse fuel strainer before the pump to keep debris out of it of course but I feel like it would start easier if the fuel was pressurized through the main filter to the mechanical pump. Low pressure of course +/- 3psi.
Has anyone done this on an older carbbed engine before? Any other thoughts?\
Thanks
