FP Gauge Install ?

[JPittman]

On my '99 I will be installing Ray's tapped banjo bolt on the fuel outlet that goes to the VP44. I will then run a rubber hose to a Westech sending unit. I'm leaving the test port free so it can be tested with a mechanical gauge if needed.



Question: What is the proper method of bleeding the air out? Do I first bleed at the fuel outlet with the hose attached, then tighten it, then let the fuel run out of the hose at the sending unit, then attach that to the sending unit. Just thinking that if there's air at the fuel outlet, I might have to bleed at the VP44 too. Maybe I'm thinking too much.



Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[dresslered]

It would be a better location to install Ray's banjo in the one comming off of the bottom of the fuel filter. This will put you a little further from the injection pump but will still be post filter. I bled the air from the test port on the injection pump. Have someone bump start your truck while you hold the port open with a rag (diesel will flow out). I had to do it by myself so I ended up taking a diesel shower! :{

 

[JPittman]

David,

On the '99's, the ports are on top of the filter. The fuel outlet line (post filter) is hard then goes to rubber then back to a hard line to the VP44. and with the rubber hose to the sender I would think I wouln't have too much vibration that might affect the sender. I just want to avoid bleeding at the VP44, hard to get to and even harder to retorque to proper specs. I just hope that when I put the banjo in, air doesn't go to the VP44.



Have you been able to get to Canada yet? I wrote you last year about travel up there. We got there last year and stopped to see Bill K.

 

[dresslered]

Sorry, I couldn't remember whether the 99's had the ports on the top of the filter or not. You should be fine with the rubber hose. This will dampen the pulses from the injection pump.



I would still bleed from the same place that I suggested. I had taken all the lines off when I was studying the install so I got plenty of air in the system. I then "slightly" unscrewed the test port on the injection pump and bump started several times. Once I saw plenty of fluid coming out, I figured that I had got most of the air out of the system. It stumbled a little at first, but soon recovered.



Still haven't made it up to Canada. We had our first son instead so the camping trips have remained in California. But sooon..... real soon... Good to hear from you.

 

[JPittman]

David,



Congratulations on the son. Enjoy every moment, speaking from experience, the time goes by too fast.



I'm paranoid about unscrewing the bolt at the VP44, it's not a test port like yours. Just worried about getting the correct torque in that hard to reach area. Did you torque yours? I will first bleed at the outlet line where the tapped banjo bolt is on top of the filter then the fuel hose that goes to the sender... hope it works. Haven't received the gauge and bolt from Geno's yet so I have time to build up the courage.



Thanks again for the help

 

[dresslered]

Sorry that I am not more familiar with your engine layout. If you wait until the third Tuesday of the month, we will have our local San Jose Ramrunner's meeting where I can check out some of the other rigs. Hey, if you're only in Walnut Creek, why don't you stop on by (http://www.ramrunners.org/) and see for yourself. I have a torque gauge in the garage but chose to tighten by feel. Just like a spark plug, not too tight but not too loose.



David



P. S. I'm guessing that the bolt that you are contemplating is in the same location as my test port which I took out. Maybe someone that knows will chime in.

 

[Jonz]

I just installed a mechanical pressure guage off the injection pump.



What are the recommended running pressures?



Thanks



Troy

 

[JPittman]

David,

Don't feel bad about knowing the layout of my engine, I still have to pop the hood to look at things as I read about something. thanks for the invite to the meeting, unfortunately I'm in Fresno on Tuesdays on business. I have a Schraeder valve in my test ports. Will be putting a tapped banjo bolt on the fuel outlet side of the filter which is on top, then running the hose from there to the sender. Just wondering if I should bleed at the banjo bolt, tighten it, and then bleed the hose and quickly put it on the sender. Don't want to get into a "no-start" situation.



Jonz,

According to Cummins, pressure prefilter should be 7psi cranking and at idle 10psi minimum. They told me they have no specs for W. O. T.

 

[dresslered]

I bled my system at the Schrader valve going into the injection pump. At one point, I took the Schrader valve completely off of the injection pump and saw plenty of diesel dribble out. I was certain that I would have troubles starting it again. After several "bump starts" (while keeping the Schrader valve opened) and about two or three 5-second cranks of the engine (Schrader valve closed), it finally started up stumbling for a few seconds more and then it smoothed out. I've heard of several others having a little difficulty at first, but then they seem to bleed the remaining air themselves.