Engine trouble

Does anyone have a copy of the electrical that that is more clear than the online manuals. I can't read the colors or the component names. thx

How do you know the fuel lift pump is moving fuel thru the system? You can have fuel at the injector while the low pressure side doesn't have enough pressure. Initially anyways.

Was anything done to the fuel system or engine before this started? Why was there a linkage problem? Is the fuel shut off selonoid working correctly?

Edited by Bill Layton - 06 May 2015 at 9:07am

I rebuilt my engine 3 years ago due to a crack head. Luckily I manage to find the "last one" and with the help of Frank and the group I manage to learn what a wrench was and proceeded to re build an engine. Since then it has been flawless.

This weekend I decide to reacquaint myself with the engine as I took it through it's spring re-commissioning and pulled the thermostat, the trap below the thermostat to check for sediment (all clean) But then I notice some oil had dripped from the rear cap to the cylinder head. So I took that off and about 4-5 tablespoons of oil poured out.

Hmmm, I hand turned the fly wheel, no oil came spitting out of the valves. So then what? The bow of the boat had been elevated for the winter to promote good drainage out of the cockpit, could some oil seeped backwards during the winter? Last summer I had to hand crank the engine and used some oil to encourage easier starting, also did it a second time for a cold start. Could this be some residue from that?

So if I am expressing a little concern, it's I am hoping this is a no big deal and I won't have to repeat my experience of three years ago.

Any thoughts?   

I assume Seawolf is speaking of the valve cover (cap?) There should not be a significant amount of oil accumulating there. Perhaps if the valve guides were worn, or valve shafts worn, then maybe, but I think that would usually translate into a smoky exhaust and some loss of oil. I have not seen oil accumulate in there. When you got this replacement head, had it been rebuilt, or was it just a working head?

I know the DV8 ME has a cap on the valve cover but I've never seen a cap on the valve cover on the DV8 LSME (saildrive version) or on a Laser 28 before. 

The one that gives access to the adjustments for the valve clearances? I assume this is the cover we are focused on and that oil is being found to have accumulated inside such that when the screws are removes and the seal broken that there is oil accumulated in there, which there is usually very little.

Thanks for the clarification, yes I am talking about the valve cover. When inspecting the motor I notice, literally a drop of oil hanging onto the bottom on the valve cover. Which got me curious so I took the cover off to find the oil which I questioned if it should be there.

The boat sat this winter with the bow high to help water drain out to the cockpit sculptors. So I reasoned that maybe some oil migrated into the valves, the area where I would check for timing. But your comment that the oil in this area is normal and as I understand it, quit worrying about it and go sailing!

Yes. I second that. "Have a good summer"! I'm now sure you will with a rebuilt engine and no problem with the head. Oil must lubricate the rocker arms under that valve cover, so there is oil in there. Have lots of fun!

Engine rebuild fail
To recap, the original failure resulted in water in the oil and the head going to Canada for water jacket repair.
I've reassembled the engine and the test start did not go well. As the water started to fill the water jackets, an unused bolt hole on the starter side of the cylinder head started leaking water. I plugged the hole but can only assume that a water jacket in the cylinder block is leaking into a previously dry void in the block.
I continued cranking to see what else would happen. By the time water started coming out of the muffler, I also had a small amount of water/mist coming from the air intake. Still no water in the oil though.
I'm left to assume the water jacket in the head has failed again. Anything else I should investigate before pulling the head?
thx, john

Thanks Frank, I backflushed the bolt hole and it's going into the water jacket. I'll leave it plugged with a bolt.
I guess the good news is that I'm an idiot. When I installed the head I was holding up the rods with a thin piece of wire and it was still in there today when I removed the head. Luckily I have another head gasket on hand.
What I need help on is the injector. When I removed it, the cavity had liquid. It was installed with 1 thin washer.
john