1993 Dodge Diesel-5.9 Engine/KSB Solenoid

[Yuran]

Need information on fuel leak/gasket blew



Thanks, Mike

 

[DValentine]

Welcome Mike,



Not sure what you are asking. I don't know if the KSB has a gasket. There are many with more knowledge than I.



Can you give us some more information to go on?

Don't feel shy. There are no stupid questions... except for the ones not asked.





Dave

 

[Yuran]

Thanks for responding Dave, I'm Mike's wife trying to get some answers for him while he is at work/I may have explained the situation incorrectly (I'm not really a good Motor Head), Mike was driving the truck home and was losing alot of fuel on the roadway and then had truck towed/the fuel pressure was building and then one of the gaskets blew out/I'm not sure if the KSB solenoid has a direct correlation to the original problem. If I'm not too clear, I will have him respond this evening.



Thanks, Mary Ann (Mike Yuran's wife)

 

[dodgenstein]

There are some o-rings in the back (toward head) side of the pump that are known to fail causing a large leak. Mine went out under warranty. Bad news is if these are the culprit, the pump has to come off.

 

[DValentine]

Yeah, I agree with Dodgenstein. From your reply I say that is the culprit. Pastor Bob or Greenleaf would know more than I do about the weaknesses of the pumps. Right before I bought my truck the previous owner had to replace the O ring on the pump.



Let us know more about what you find, Mary Ann.



Dave

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

The leak can be one of a couple places ... the most common is as noted above... the "mechanical timing piston" cover.

On the drivers fender side is a cylinder about 1" in diameter, it has a single 1/8" metal tube attached to the front (rad end) and it has a single wire connected to the back (firewall end). This thing covers an internal part that moves back and forth (toward and away from driver/passenger fender. On the back side of this (between the block and the pump body) is an oval plate which covers the opening were this piston moves back and forth. This oval plate has an O-Ring under it that seals it off.

What usually happens is the O-Ring fails/weakens and a leak occurs because the internals are under pressure.

You'll need to remove the pump to repair this one, if thats the leak.



If you look thru my readers rigs gallery you'll see pictures of the KSB solenoid... the plate and oring on on the direct opposite side.



Here is a link to the pictures... .



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&userid=5168&albumid=453



pastor bob.....

 

[Jgolden]

Just happened on this post and answers. No doubt a picture is worth a thousand words. Thank you sir, pastor bob.

 

[Yuran]

WOW!!! Dear DValentine, Dodgenstein and Pastor Bob (BushWakr) I'm very impressed by your quick response and knowledge/this is the first time I've used this site/you have all been a great help/Even though my knowledge is minimal, my husband knew everything you were talking about.



Thanks for helping! Mary Ann

 

[Yuran]

Pastor Bob & others:



Question #1. - Does the gasket on the KSB Solenoid Housing fail on its own, or because the solenoid valve doesn't work? The engine has 233,000 miles on it. No known repairs previously.



Question #2. - Can you remove only the KSB Housing and replace the gasket?



Question #3 - How difficult is it to remove pump & return it to proper timing?



Thanks, Mike Yuran

 

[DValentine]

I better let other answer the first two, for I have no immediate knowledge on the KSB, except to say that it will come off on its own, without pump removal.



The other I can answer from experience. There is a lot of stuff that needs to come off to make acess to the pump easier. But in doing so, you can fix some things that might need attention. The throttle linkage is probably sloppy. I fixed mine with some 3/8 soft copper tubing making a new sleeve to go over the shaft. With the pump off you can saw off the bracket that inhibits the removal of the fuel shutoff solenoid with a wrench. The bracket blocks the use of a wrench on said solenoid. The bracket is at the back end of the pump. You also can do some modifications to the pump while it is off, easier than leaning over the fender. The governor spring replacement, fuel pin modification, star wheel, fuel screw limiter and cover plate... . are just some of the things many people modify.

Pulling the pump is tough if you don't have the right tools, but outside of that it is straight forward-just time consuming the first time. Look in Swankmetal's reader's rigs. I think he has a picture of a wrench he modified to get to the back nut on the pump. The other route is to pull the power steering and vacuum pump. I found this to be a good way to go. Just hang it with some wire back toward the front axel... . so its not hanging by the hoses.



As you see there are many guys willing to help. Just keep asking questions. Give us some more detail as to where you live. There may be some one in your town on this forum who is handy with a wrench and advice. There is a search option in the "tool bar" -the directory at the top of the page. Under discussion forums go to search and click on it. Type pump timing, pump removal, governor spring or any questions you might have. On the right hand side you can choose what forum you search in..... choose the first gen. Read, read, read. Oo.

 

[Greenleaf]

Sorry Mike,

I have been on a mini vacation. The gasket (O ring) will fail for several reasons. Most common; o ring is dry rotting. Another is internal pressures caused by one or a combination of probles. The KSB can and does contribute to this. The KSB blocks the bleed-off of the internal operating pressure and increses the operaing psi which moves the piston. This will cause increased load on the o ring(s).



You can simply remove the KSB solenoid housing to R&R the o ring. If it's the cover on the back side that's leaking, you'll be pulling the pump and will then want to reaseal the pump as all the o rings will be exhibiting the same problem in due time.



GL