80 bird with 3208 cat keeps stalling - PLEASE help

[Dan Weaver]

When you turn on the ignition, a fuel solonoid is energized and
opens, allowing fuel into the injectors and motor while cranking
over to start the motor. The solonoid then stays open so the motor
can continue to run, energized from ignition switch as begin point.

When you turn the ignition off, the fuel solonoid closes, and this
is what actually stops your cat motor (unlike a gas engine where you
kill the spark to the plugs). If the fuel solonoid is not energized
open, the motor cannot run (no fuel to motor). Center of cat motor
towards the front, small cylinder with wires on it and fuel line in
and out. Anytime any diesel motor stops running without killing the
ignition, suspect the solonoid and check it out first.

You can acutally hold it open by hand, or tie it open to get you
home if need be. I did this on my current cummins (tied solonoid
into open position) to get me home when my fuel solonoid died an
early death.

Dan
94 BMC 37'

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Adria Haynes"
<mrbeebody@n...> wrote:
> I have no idea what part you are speakig of - but will look
tomorrow
> to see if I can make sense of it.
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dan Weaver"
> wrote:
> > Long shot, but worth checking:
> > I agree it sounds fuel related, but also check the wire
connection
> > on the fuel solonoid under the dog house to ensure it is tight,
> and
> > not intermmittently making/losing connection causing the fuel
> > solonoid to fluctuate in and out, cutting the flow.
> >
> > Dan
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Adria Haynes"
> > <mrbeebody@n...> wrote:
> > > Gurus,
> > >
> > > I had been here for a while, took a break, but have been
lurking
> > > again
> > > for a while. I NEED HELP!
> > >
> > > What I have is a Wanderlodge 35fc with a newer 3208 Cat. We
just
> > > used it last month for a long weekend that was 2 hours away
and
> > > everything went excellent. We started the trip with 1/4 tank,
> > > filled up, and had 1/2 tank when the trip was over - which how
> it
> > > has sat for the past
> > > month.
> > >
> > > I fired it up for a few minutes on Thursday night to make sure
we
> > > were ready to rock for the long weekend. After getting
> everything
> > > ready to head out - it wouldn't stay running. Per advice from
> > > friends and family, I changed the fuel filter at the back of
the
> > > motor with a brand new one that was FULL of fuel. I also
changed
> > out
> > > the water seperator and filter under the LP compartment door.
I
> > > removed, refilled, and reinstalled the engine bay fuel filter
a
> > > number of times. Each time priming it with the primer.
> > >
> > > After removing the air filter, the bus would start and run if
I
> > shot
> > > and kept shooting starting fluid down the intake. After a
> while,
> > it
> > > seemed to be able to sustain on its own. I had to keep the
> > throttle
> > > pulled back to keep it idling a little over 1200. While the
> tach
> > > indicated steady RPM's, the cloud out the back indicated
> > sputtering
> > > within. Again, after a while it would run on its own, seem to
> run
> > > well, but not for long before it would start to sputter. At
> that
> > > point, I would remove the new fuel filter and find it to be
only
> > > about 1/4 full of fuel - making me to believe that it died
when
> > the
> > > fuel filter ran out of fuel. When removing the new filter, at
> the
> > > point when the seal breaks, it gives out that "shtook" popping
> > sound
> > > as though it were under heavy suction.
> > >
> > > Another interesting thing is that after having been run, I
would
> > > turn the valve on the water seperator. Not only would the
> liquids
> > > not just stream out - it would "burble and chug" out the
bottom
> > but
> > > only do so after it looked like it sucked air IN - as though
> there
> > > were a natural vacuum.
> > >
> > > After having the vacation already wrecked, I need to focus on
> > > getting it back up and running again ASAP. I read a post on
the
> > > vintagebirds.com site in which a gentleman indicated that he
had
> an
> > > 81 with a 1/2 tank that acted like he was out of fuel and that
> he
> > > added more fuel and it behaved as long as he kept it above the
> 1/2
> > > tank level until he did something with a 1/4" copper line.
> > >
> > > I'm unclear as to what he did to fix it and cannot contact him.
> > >
> > > Is it a common problem for a bird such as mine to ALL OF A
> SUDDEN
> > > act like it has a heavy fuel restriction or act like its out
of
> > > gas? My uncle seems to think its acting like it's sucking air
> > into
> > > the line or there is a restriction.
> > >
> > > Please help, I'm desperate. Any help, suggestions, or
anything
> > > would be HUGELY appreciated.
> > >
> > > Thanks, John in Flint.