posted September 07, 2004 03:55 PM               

Last weekend's three day trip from Toronto to Burlington Bay on Lake Ontario was cut rather short by diesel failure.

Last Friday evening Lynn and I were motoring toward our first overnight stop in a quiet little bay a few miles away in south Etobicoke.
The 25 year-old Volvo MD11C 2-cylinder diesel faltered and began to smell of hot fuel. It would idle.....albeit roughly...but would not provide any thrust.

With the remaining light breezes available we unfurled the jenny and swept into the tiny bay, drawing up behind another sloop already anchored. We let go the 20kg Bruce (for the first time ever...anywhere) and as I back winded the jib, Lynn paid out all 63 ft of chain and about 20ft of line in 13 ft of water.

With no chance to really stretch out the chain or properly set the Bruce, we set the alarm clock for an anchor watch every two hours all that night. (So much for quality sleep) The depth sounder was set to alarm at 10ft. My portable GPS has an anchor watch setting but the smallest drift increment is 600ft. (Drifting 600ft would have put us on the rocks for sure!)

Saturday brought the Toronto air show but no wind to sail home. We enjoyed our quiet bay and the aircraft banking right overhead. A passing boat was kind enough to bring us some ice and two beers. Sunday gave us a fair SE wind and a boisterous sail home to QCYC on Toronto Island...a departing visitor's sailboat kindly gave us a tow to our slip.

Analysis:

Rough idle.
No power in reverse or fwd.
Lots of stink in the engine compartment.( The quarterberth was so smelly we had to sleep forward for two nights.)
Coolant temp remained normal.
Observed a good flow of water in engine exhaust. It was too dark to see the exhaust colour.
Underwater inspection shows no prop fouling and saildrive unit in good shape. Prop turns easily by hand.
Oil in engine sump at proper level.

Transmission fluid level OK (I think) Will verify that tonight.
Engine compartment and engine relatively clean. No oil or water under the engine or in bilges.
Just a little fluid (diesel fuel???) sitting under the rear injector feedline coupling.

My theory is that the fuel feedline to the rear cylinder's injector became partially loosened, spraying fuel over the hot engine.
The lack of good fuel pressure to that one cylinder starved it, causing the lack of power and vibration.

Today I'll do a search in the Niagara archives for the proper wrench sizes for fuel system maintenance on a Volvo MD11C

This evening I'll do a systematic inspection of all high pressure diesel connections.

Wish me luck! .....Ken

posted September 07, 2004 10:37 PM               

Shortwaves' motor is still starting on the first pull. Lynn had her sister and family out a few weeks ago. They anchored in Munchinbacker Bay for a swim. While anchored a squall blew up from offshore. The anchor held beautifully and the 8 hp allowed them to easily motor into the wind to pull up anchor. didn't have a whole lot of room to manouver as they were quite close to shore but good working equipment turned an uncomfortable situation itno a minor inconvenience.