sudden drop in power

[te102056]

I have a Albin 43" 1980. Recently I have been noticing a sudden drop in power from about 1700 rpm to about 1200 after operating about 30-40 min. There is no problem bringing it back up, and the there is no movement in the accelerator handle when this happens. Usually it only happens once when I am out. I changed the filters to see if that helped the situation, with no difference. It almost seems like there might be a kink in the cable somewhere and somehow it works itself out after about 30 min. Has anyone had this issue before?

[jleonard]

I have a Albin 43" 1980. Recently I have been noticing a sudden drop in power from about 1700 rpm to about 1200 after operating about 30-40 min. There is no problem bringing it back up, and the there is no movement in the accelerator handle when this happens. Usually it only happens once when I am out. I changed the filters to see if that helped the situation, with no difference. It almost seems like there might be a kink in the cable somewhere and somehow it works itself out after about 30 min. Has anyone had this issue before?

If you even think you have a kink in the cable you'd better find out for sure in a hurry. The kink will become a BREAK in very short order. But I doubt there is a kink. More likely the cable is starting to "freeze up" or it's frayed inside and is hanging up on the sheathing (lining).
My opinion is that if your boat is a 1980 and still on the original cable it's time to replace it before you get stranded (no pun intended).

I plan on replacing all mine this winter

[Despacio]

I believe I had something very similar happen. The fuel lift pump was failing slowly. Not long after it failed completely.

It was harder to find the original pump than it should be, no one stocks them out here because they don't fail very often.

[jleonard]

I believe I had something very similar happen. The fuel lift pump was failing slowly. Not long after it failed completely.

It was harder to find the original pump than it should be, no one stocks them out here because they don't fail very often.

American Diesel should stock them if you have a Lehman 120 as I am now "assuming" you have. At least they had one 6 years ago when I called. There is a "kit" they sell because you have to change the short flex line ahead of the pump...the new pmp has different fittings.

[Despacio]

Yes, I have a 120. An outfit here on the west coast ordered one from somewhere, possibly American Diesel. I don't remember why I just didn't order it directly from them. It fit just fine.

I was wondering if replacing it with an electric pump wouldn't be easy to do, and allow for easier bleeding.

[jleonard]

Yes, I have a 120. An outfit here on the west coast ordered one from somewhere, possibly American Diesel. I don't remember why I just didn't order it directly from them. It fit just fine.

I was wondering if replacing it with an electric pump wouldn't be easy to do, and allow for easier bleeding.

I have an electric pump plumbed in to use in an emergency as a liftpump or for bleeding.

[Great White]

I also have an electric pump for bleeding which works great. The PO also put in another pump and a Rocor 900 and has it plumbed so I can filter on board fuel through the 900 if needed. Also if I go to an unfamiliar marina with use of the valves I can put all of my on board fuel over to one tank take on fuel in the empty tank and then filter it through the 900 before I introduce it to my engine filtering system. It works well once I learned all of the valves.

[Despacio]

I do exactly the same thing. I use the fuel out of the starboard tanks, and pump it as necessary from the port side.

Because the galley weighs more than the dinette, my boat floats starboard side down a few degrees. So I keep about 30 more in the port tanks to level the boat. As I use it the boat gets out of level so I flip a switch and level it again. When the boat does not level, it's time for fuel.

[te102056]

I found out that the fuel supply line has a section that is about 18 inches long. The original lines were a mesh type hose. If you still have the hose located below the fuel lift pump, replace them as they will collapse after about an hour of use then after a few seconds they will come back to normal then later collapse again. The hose runs about $19. Make sure you replace both engines supply.

[jleonard]

Yes that is the flex line I mentioned in my earlier reply. Glad it,s fixed.