[C320-list] Westerbeke 30B-3: Fuel pump interlocked to ; ow oil pressure switch

[Rick Sulewski]

Mike,  
On my Westerbeke powered hull #277 I learned in my second year that   a broken spade blade connector on the oil  pressure sender switch set off the low oil pressure alarm  buzzer while the engine continued to run. To circumvent the alarm until I could secure a new oil sender I simply connected the two oil sender wires to bypass the oil pressure sender. In this instance  I learned that it was apparent when the fuel pump continued to run ("click") when the ignition key was turned on while bypassing the oil pressure sender switch.  Not a condition to be tolerated for very long for safety reasons because the fuel pump could continue to run or leak while the engine stopped running if the ignition switch was not switched off. I had another  instances of a broken oil pressure spade on my 4 year old Westerbeke again due to the rigidity of the oil sending wires until I added a section of softer wire that I coiled to provide some flex as the engine vibrated. 

When the engine stopped  few years later  I was convinced that I was out of fuel while motoring up to a transient dock with just under a quarter tank  registering on my fuel gauge.  So, after successfully sailing up to that transient dock on the headsail when the wind was blowing off the dock was not enough excitement,  I later learned that I had a broken power lead to the fuel pump.  I had not really run out of fuel after all. How I learned that fact was interesting because  I initially believed that I had run out of fuel and after adding a gallon of fuel, the engine fired right up.  But, while I was in the cabin  while the engine was running I noted that I could not hear the fuel pump run ("click").  I pulled off the engine cover and then discovered the broken fuel pump power lead had separated from the connector I had installed having replaced the fuel pump a few years earlier. (BTW,  with a NAPA generic fuel pump for a Kubota diesel garden tractor that continues to work well to this day.)  I repaired that lead and continued on without the need to add  more fuel because the fuel pump could draw from the bottom of my quarter filled tank. Lesson learned is that the Westerbeke engine will run even when fuel can gravity feed the fuel system after the fuel pump fails,  as long as you have enough fuel in the tank which was about a quarter full according to my fuel gauge.

Why is this important....? Because if you had more than about  a quarter tank of fuel when your oil pressure sender wire broke, your engine may have run as long as it was above the gravity feed level because a portion of the fuel tank is higher than the fuel pump and fuel distribution line on your Westerbeke engine as Is the case with my hull # which is close to your hull #. Later hull #s switched to a different power supplier following the Westerbeke run of hulls. If you had added any fuel to your tank thinking that you had run out of fuel, your broken oil sender wire may be a random fail while your fuel pump may have already failed. So, check to learn if you can hear the fuel pump "click" when your engine is running and if you cannot hear the pump  run, take the two oil sender wires and link them to temporarily  and then turn on the ignition switch without starting the engine because if the fuel pump is working, you should hear the fuel pump clicking. Be certain to also check the power lead to your fuel pump. My OEM fuel pump failed after about 600 hours and after replacing it with a NAPA model, I now carry a spare NAPA pump for less than $30 when a red painted OEM pump was well over $100 about 20 years ago

Do my observation impact your oil sender wire conclusions? 

Rick
  My-Ria,  95' 320 Hull # 277

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of M Mellon
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2018 5:29 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Westerbeke 30B-3: Fuel pump interlocked to ; ow oil pressure switch

A note here I learned recently:  For the Westerbeke 30B-3 used in our boat, 
LaVida #324, 1996, it appears that the electric fuel pump is interlocked to 
the low oil pressure switch.  If the LOP switch indicates low oil pressure 
(switch contacts open), the fuel pump is turned off. and the engine shuts 
down.  The same thing happens, however, if there is simply a break in the 
wiring to the low oil pressure switch - it appears then to be open - and 
also shuts down the engine.

The idea apparently is that if you encounter low oil pressure (due to a loss 
of oil for some real reason) then the engine is shut down pretty much 
immediately to prevent further engine damage.

Fair winds,

Mike
LaVida
Hull 324, 1996

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Schwartz" <schwartz781 at optimum.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2018 5:53 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Glow Plugs & Keyswitch - Perkins Perama M30 Engine


Ahoy....#245, with westerbeke.....I have had starting issues on and off
since getting this one 5 years ago.....all electric related....weak
connections from wire harness to engine from helm....then solenoid and
10 amp fuse to glow plugs and fuel pump through oil pressure sensor....I
am also thinking about re wiring glow plugs and fuel pump to a dedicated
direct switch at the helm.....most difficult part might be finding space
for more wires in tubes from deck to engine inst. pod.....Joe


On Fri, Aug 31, 2018 at 08:28 PM, Dave Hupe wrote:

> Update ……. Problem resolved … it was the glow plugs (2 of 3 bad) that
> prevented my engine from starting. The engine lit up perfectly after
> I installed them this afternoon.
> I also have confirmed that my glow plug relay still continues to feed
> 12 volts to the plugs even after starting (fed by the "on" position of
> my 3-position key switch). This is not good, but apparently still
> worked a long time (about 8-10 years total) for the previous owner/me
> until this failure. I am probably going to follow Warren Updike's
> suggestions to install a pushbutton that will control the glow plugs
> (so that they will only energize when I push the button to warm before
> starting). Or, I will have the pushbutton control the starter and
> arrange to have the glow plugs on the 3rd spring-loaded position of
> the key switch. I don't think this will be difficult or expensive.
> I got lucky and only needed to pull apart one fuel line coupling
> (located near the front of the engine on top of the high pressure fuel
> pump) that completely blocked the forwardmost glow plug. I was able
> to bleed it easily when reassembled using the hand operated lift pump
> and had only minor difficulty getting a good seal (replaced the copper
> fuel line coupling washers).
> Now.....back to sailing before the end of the season .
> Dave Hupe
> 1994 Cat 320 "Mayan Sun" (#32)
> Holland, MI
>