Westerbeke Lift Pump Woes

During a recent cruise, the lift pump on my 1975 Westerbeke 4-91 failed. I was able to continue our trip by bypassing the pump since our fuel tank is now mounted in the lazarette, providing sufficient head pressure to the engine. However, the lift pump is useful for those occasions when fuel lines must be opened and the system needs to be primed. I was wondering if anyone had experience rebuilding these pumps. Torrenson Marine appears to sell the pump for around $300. I also noticed that some folks have replaced the mechanical pump with less expensive electric units with success. Any advice on sources for rebuild kits or experience with an electric pump would be most useful. Thanks, Michael Boyte s/v moonrise 1975 Cal 34

Hi Mike - For about $125, Napa has an electric fuel pump that will replace the Westerbeke pump's function. If you wire it to the ignition switch, it will run and stop with the engine. This makes bleeding the system quick and easy. *Joe DeMers - owner* Sound Marine Diesel LLC SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> *phone & fax (860) 666-2184* On 8/30/2011 1:21 AM, michaelboyte wrote: > During a recent cruise, the lift pump on my 1975 Westerbeke 4-91 failed. I was able to continue our trip by bypassing the pump since our fuel tank is now mounted in the lazarette, providing sufficient head pressure to the engine. However, the lift pump is useful for those occasions when fuel lines must be opened and the system needs to be primed. > > I was wondering if anyone had experience rebuilding these pumps. Torrenson Marine appears to sell the pump for around $300. I also noticed that some folks have replaced the mechanical pump with less expensive electric units with success. > > Any advice on sources for rebuild kits or experience with an electric pump would be most useful. > > Thanks, > > Michael Boyte > s/v moonrise 1975 Cal 34 > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 9.0.901 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3866 - Release Date: 08/29/11 14:34:00 > -- *Joe DeMers - owner* Sound Marine Diesel LLC SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> *phone & fax (860) 666-2184*

Michael: I have the same boat with the same engine but a different model. I have a electric lift pump at the tank and it performs just fine. It also is great for bleeding the fuel lines. Danny --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "michaelboyte" <michael@...> wrote: > > During a recent cruise, the lift pump on my 1975 Westerbeke 4-91 failed. <SNIP>

Joe and Danny, Thanks for the advice. Wired to the ignition as you suggest should be a great solution. In addition, I will need to fabricate some sort of plate to cover the hole left on the side of the engine. I learned the hard way that oil does splash out of that opening if the lift pump is removed. Thanks, Michael --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Joe DeMers <jedsail@...> wrote: > > Hi Mike - > For about $125, Napa has an electric fuel pump that will replace the > Westerbeke pump's function. If you wire it to the ignition switch, it > will run and stop with the engine. This makes bleeding the system quick > and easy. > > *Joe DeMers - owner* > > Sound Marine Diesel LLC > > SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> > > *phone & fax (860) 666-2184* > > > On 8/30/2011 1:21 AM, michaelboyte wrote: > > During a recent cruise, the lift pump on my 1975 Westerbeke 4-91 failed. I was able to continue our trip by bypassing the pump since our fuel tank is now mounted in the lazarette, providing sufficient head pressure to the engine. However, the lift pump is useful for those occasions when fuel lines must be opened and the system needs to be primed. > > > > I was wondering if anyone had experience rebuilding these pumps. Torrenson Marine appears to sell the pump for around $300. I also noticed that some folks have replaced the mechanical pump with less expensive electric units with success. > > > > Any advice on sources for rebuild kits or experience with an electric pump would be most useful. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Michael Boyte > > s/v moonrise 1975 Cal 34

Joe, This harks back to the discussion a while ago about calling the speed control on a Diesel engine a "throttle". Is it proper to refer to the switch controlling the electrical acessories on a Diesel an "ignition"? George From: Joe DeMers Sent: Tue 8/30/2011 5:33 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Westerbeke Lift Pump Woes Hi Mike - For about $125, Napa has an electric fuel pump that will replace the Westerbeke pump's function. If you wire it to the ignition switch, it will run and stop with the engine. This makes bleeding the system quick and easy. Joe DeMers - owner Sound Marine Diesel LLC SoundMarineDiesel.com phone & fax (860) 666-2184 On 8/30/2011 1:21 AM, michaelboyte wrote: During a recent cruise, the lift pump on my 1975 Westerbeke 4-91 failed. I was able to continue our trip by bypassing the pump since our fuel tank is now mounted in the lazarette, providing sufficient head pressure to the engine. However, the lift pump is useful for those occasions when fuel lines must be opened and the system needs to be primed. I was wondering if anyone had experience rebuilding these pumps. Torrenson Marine appears to sell the pump for around $300. I also noticed that some folks have replaced the mechanical pump with less expensive electric units with success. Any advice on sources for rebuild kits or experience with an electric pump would be most useful. Thanks, Michael Boyte s/v moonrise 1975 Cal 34 ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com/ Version: 9.0.901 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3866 - Release Date: 08/29/11 14:34:00 -- Joe DeMers - owner Sound Marine Diesel LLC SoundMarineDiesel.com phone & fax (860) 666-2184

You caught me George. I should have said "Key switch" Joe DeMers On 8/30/2011 5:34 PM, Elwers, George A. wrote: > > > Joe, > This harks back to the discussion a while ago about calling the speed > control on a Diesel engine a "throttle". Is it proper to refer to > the switch controlling the electrical acessories on a Diesel an > "ignition"? > George > > *From:* Joe DeMers > *Sent:* Tue 8/30/2011 5:33 AM > *To:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > *Subject:* Re: [Cal_Boats] Westerbeke Lift Pump Woes > > Hi Mike - > For about $125, Napa has an electric fuel pump that will replace the > Westerbeke pump's function. If you wire it to the ignition switch, it > will run and stop with the engine. This makes bleeding the system > quick and easy. > > *Joe DeMers - owner * > > Sound Marine Diesel LLC > > SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> > > *phone & fax (860) 666-2184 * > > > On 8/30/2011 1:21 AM, michaelboyte wrote: >> During a recent cruise, the lift pump on my 1975 Westerbeke 4-91 failed. I was able to continue our trip by bypassing the pump since our fuel tank is now mounted in the lazarette, providing sufficient head pressure to the engine. However, the lift pump is useful for those occasions when fuel lines must be opened and the system needs to be primed. >> >> I was wondering if anyone had experience rebuilding these pumps. Torrenson Marine appears to sell the pump for around $300. I also noticed that some folks have replaced the mechanical pump with less expensive electric units with success. >> >> Any advice on sources for rebuild kits or experience with an electric pump would be most useful. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Michael Boyte >> s/v moonrise 1975 Cal 34 >> >> >> >> ------------------------------------ >> >> Yahoo! Groups Links >> >> >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG -http://www.avg.com/ >> Version: 9.0.901 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3866 - Release Date: 08/29/11 14:34:00 >> > > -- > > *Joe DeMers - owner * > > Sound Marine Diesel LLC > > SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> > > *phone & fax (860) 666-2184 * > > > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 9.0.901 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3867 - Release Date: 08/30/11 02:34:00 > -- *Joe DeMers - owner* Sound Marine Diesel LLC SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> *phone & fax (860) 666-2184*