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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL (The long struggle is winning, I am giving up)
I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357198] Sun, 26 July 2020 12:36 Go to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
Hello fellow GMCers

I think I am throwing in the towel.

HISTORY:

When I originally purchased Gatsbys Cruiser, a former 74 Glacier 260, She was leaking fuel when filled up. She ran needed some upgrades.

The reason I went to a GMC was because my older MALLARD ran ok but she couldn’t do 70, which seems to be the speed the other Rvs would run, I couldn’t keep up.

Traving to Florida, the GMC kept up with those Rvs traveling 70 MPH easily, and was a most comfortable ride.

After that shop dropped my tanks for inspection and changed out the fuel lines, I had power problems, going home I couldn’t get over 65 and that would eventually regress to top of 35 as I reached Chicago.

For the last 10 years I have struggled with this problem and finally proved the problem is the fuel system before the fuel solenoid valves.

I have been through multiple carborator changes, I now have a GMC motorhome numbered carborator. Thankyou so much to a GMCnet member being there when I needed a carb.

Various upgrades and restoration had been performed as I moved ahead in hopes to get her back on the road.

We added an electric fuel pump which was intended for priming the carb for start up after sitting a long time in storage but it turned out with the fuel pump running, I could run normal speeds, 70 mph was gain attainable.

I was highly hopefull and was planning a trip to Cinabar to have the tanks dropped and replace the fuel lines to correct the starvation problem, maybe next year.

I had the tires replaced, took a trip down to Indiana to have BOTH windshields replaced. On the way down she ran 65 mph just fine and at some point, something happened, the power loss problem was back.

Coming home was not a good trip and I ended getting towed back to my town.

At This point I am clueless what to do.

Her interior was redone, all light oak cabinets, nice latchs on the doors with a locking mechanism for the drawers. I put vinyl tile on the main floor with intentions to replace the bad carpet on the motor cover.

I was in process of doing some upgrades on the interior, not done at this time.

New tires, only a few hundred miles on them,
New windshields.
My wonderful Norcold Frig is in there.

I modified the bed base to raise and put storage under the bed.

She is painted white, I never added the stripes.

The RV is located in Waukegan, right now sitting in the mechanics lot.

I am open to talking about selling her as I am drained from this ordeal. It has been over 10 years trying to get her on the road and this last failure pretty much is pushing me over the edge.

Slc
Gatsbys CRUISER.


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
Re: I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357199 is a reply to message #357198] Sun, 26 July 2020 12:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Hal StClair   United States
Messages: 971
Registered: March 2013
Location: Rio Rancho NM
Karma: -12
Senior Member
I'd suggest springing for a FI system and forget the carb. You'll have to be sure you have fuel from the tanks but running seperate lines from the tanks with dual pumps and no switch over valve is a pretty sure fix. Hate to see you give up on your dream.
Hal


"I enjoy talking to you. Your mind appeals to me. It resembles my own mind, except you happen to be insane." 1977 Royale 101348, 1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered, 1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout, Rio Rancho, NM
Re: [GMCnet] I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357200 is a reply to message #357199] Sun, 26 July 2020 13:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ljdavick is currently offline  ljdavick   United States
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
Senior Member
I’ve been close to that point. After spending far too much to fix what seems unfixable you lose your enthusiasm for these coaches.

It sounds to me as if the only system that has not been addressed is the venting of the tanks. I’m curios to know if loosening the gas cap would fix the problem.

In any case I wish you well and very good luck down whatever path you choose.

Larry Davick
1975 Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca.

> On Jul 26, 2020, at 10:58 AM, Hal StClair via Gmclist wrote:
>
> I'd suggest springing for a FI system and forget the carb. You'll have to be sure you have fuel from the tanks but running seperate lines from the
> tanks with dual pumps and no switch over valve is a pretty sure fix. Hate to see you give up on your dream.
> Hal
> --
> "I enjoy talking to you. Your mind appeals to me. It resembles my own mind, except you happen to be insane."
>
> 1977 Royale 101348,
>
> 1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,
>
>
>
> 1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout,
>
> Rio Rancho, NM
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org


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Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
Re: I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357201 is a reply to message #357199] Sun, 26 July 2020 13:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
On the original testing, we found the problem to be the OEM tanks/hoses before the solenoid fuel valves. WE KNOW the problem starts there.

I used an external fuel tank at that time and she ran fine. During this last event, I put the external gas tank on and it didn't make any difference.

I already have a electric fuel pump at the solenoid fuel valves.

As I remarked, the carborator was working fine, I was traveling at 65mph with no problem then, something happened, the he problem was back.
The electric fuel pump is pumping fuel, I took the hose off to check.

The Mechanical fuel pump may have failed, which might explain why the external fuel tank didnt make any difference.

I don't know anymore, its been too long and too much money.


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
Re: [GMCnet] I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357202 is a reply to message #357200] Sun, 26 July 2020 13:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
LARRY D

Ken Burton suggested I try losening the gas cap if it happened again. I loosened the cap with no difference.

I have been on the GMCnet more than a few times for ideas, and I tried everyone of them.

As I mentioned, before the trip yesterday for the windshield replacement, she was running fine, all systems go.

Well I guess not all systems because now it is right back at stage one, like I never did anything.

Right now I am trying to ignore the coach as it is bringing me down. It irritates me that this began with a certain shop
doing work on her, and shes been dead since.

slc


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
Re: [GMCnet] I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357203 is a reply to message #357201] Sun, 26 July 2020 13:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
johnd01 is currently offline  johnd01   United States
Messages: 354
Registered: July 2017
Location: Sacrameot
Karma: -1
Senior Member
I did not see anything about changing all the fuel filters.

On Sun, Jul 26, 2020 at 11:31 AM slc via Gmclist
wrote:

> On the original testing, we found the problem to be the OEM tanks/hoses
> before the solenoid fuel valves. WE KNOW the problem starts there.
>
> I used an external fuel tank at that time and she ran fine. During this
> last event, I put the external gas tank on and it didn't make any
> difference.
>
> I already have a electric fuel pump at the solenoid fuel valves.
>
> As I remarked, the carborator was working fine, I was traveling at 65mph
> with no problem then, something happened, the he problem was back.
> The electric fuel pump is pumping fuel, I took the hose off to check.
>
> The Mechanical fuel pump may have failed, which might explain why the
> external fuel tank didnt make any difference.
>
> I don't know anymore, its been too long and too much money.
> --
> GatsbysCruise. \
> 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
> Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS
> FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO -
> UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>


--

*John Phillips*
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Johnd01 John Phillips Avion A2600 TZE064V101164 Rancho Cordova, CA (Sacramento)
Re: [GMCnet] I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357205 is a reply to message #357203] Sun, 26 July 2020 14:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
Changing when? while looking for the problem or during the failed trip??

I have filters at the tanks and forward the fuel pump. We have cut them open periodically, NOTHING has ever show up on the filter material ever.

When the fuel pump rusted internally we had rust on the carborator filter and inside the carborator body. The carborator had to be replaced at that point.

I have never had anything show up in the fuel line filters.


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
Re: I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357206 is a reply to message #357198] Sun, 26 July 2020 15:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
6cuda6 is currently offline  6cuda6   Canada
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
Senior Member
Im going to go out on a limb here and ask you if you checked fuel pressure....just because your getting fuel doesnt mean its enough.

The other thing is did you see if your isolator is working properly?...i know it sounds goofy but i wouldnt ask unless i know the results first hand and its exactly as you describe.....runs great then all of a sudden it starts to get slower and slower and the harder you try to give it throttle the worse it gets till it all but dies. The reason i found it was just by fluke i switched to "boost" out of desperation and it started running great....switch it back after 10 minutes and good to go for an hour or so till the battery got to hot and i was forced to switch them every 3 or 4 hours at the connectors.

I would hate to see you throw in the towel as i know as a mechanic how frustrating it is....been there even on my coach.


Rich Mondor, Brockville, ON 77 Hughes 2600
Re: I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357207 is a reply to message #357198] Sun, 26 July 2020 15:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
6cuda6 is currently offline  6cuda6   Canada
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
Senior Member
Worse case have a couple beer relax then throw a regulator on it (if you have a high pressure electric pump) and bypass the mechanical pump all together (leave it in)1....you just cant give up without a last ditch effort. Beside if it runs and you still want to get rid of it you'll get more $$ than if it doesnt.

Just an off question....This so called shop didnt plumb things at the sending unit backwards did they?


Rich Mondor, Brockville, ON 77 Hughes 2600
Re: [GMCnet] I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357209 is a reply to message #357205] Sun, 26 July 2020 15:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C Boyd is currently offline  C Boyd   United States
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Registered: April 2006
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Senior Member
Sir: a couple of things that have worked for me on occasion. Blow shop air back into the tank with fill cap off a couple of good bursts to clear the pickup. If still having problems use a small c clamp or engineers clamp to clamp off auxiliary fuel line at switching valve in case valve isn’t closing off properly and sucking air from aux tank. On our coach the filters were staying clean because the pickups were stopped up and not allowing any dirt or much fuel thru. After blowing shop air in tank all sorts of brown stuff started showing up in filter in frame rail and we started running at truck speed without electric pump on.





GatsbysCruise wrote on Sun, 26 July 2020 15:29
Changing when? while looking for the problem or during the failed trip??

I have filters at the tanks and forward the fuel pump. We have cut them open periodically, NOTHING has ever show up on the filter material ever.

When the fuel pump rusted internally we had rust on the carborator filter and inside the carborator body. The carborator had to be replaced at that point.

I have never had anything show up in the fuel line filters.


C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
Re: I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357212 is a reply to message #357198] Sun, 26 July 2020 17:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rick Staples is currently offline  Rick Staples   United States
Messages: 126
Registered: May 2014
Location: Johnstown, Colorado, USA
Karma: -1
Senior Member
Just brainstorming here...... Since the problem(s) all started after dropping the tanks, I'd check that work first. Any chance the hoses were kinked or misrouted when reinstalling tanks? Even the best repair shops have the occasional Newbie, or Friday afternoon syndrome. The fuel system is fairly simple (compared with trucks or fuel injected cars).
Also, "cleaning the tanks" may have dislodged crud that landed elsewhere, like the mechanical fuel pump (another relatively cheap item to swap out). I recall one time I was running the parts department at a foreign car shop. A mechanic was replacing all the aged fuel hoses on a VW Type III, and I had given him a 20 meter or so box of hose to cut from. After a time I heard swearing from the shop, and the mechanic threw a piece of hose and some dead insects on my counter. The bugs had crawled into the hose in Germany and stayed to clog things up in Hadley, Massachusetts. Weird things happen!

Sometimes when I didn't know the history of a vehicle, I'd try setting everything back to "stock" conditions and work from there, but you have to do it in order, or in your case, maybe all at once (tank to carb.) And as someone mentioned, it could be something else, like HEI module, cap, or rotor.

I hope when the (justifiable) frustration ebbs, you'll be able to give it a slow, methodical try again. We're all here to help if we can.

Rick Staples


Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO "Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all paths may run ill." -Tolkien
Re: I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357214 is a reply to message #357206] Sun, 26 July 2020 17:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
I have not checked anything since the tow. I was pretty putout as everything seemed to be dying.
I know we have fuel from the elect fuel pump, but I had no way to check pressure in the field.

As for the mechanical fuel pump, I can't tell you. It had tobe good at least when I was still getting
good speeds, up to 65 mph, after the power loss began again, I can't tell you.

I tried some things when it died but getting to the hoses at the mechanical fuel pump, well as you know,
requires you to be a contortionist and the metal was hot.

Not sure about the battery, it was at 12.4. Hitting the battery Tie made no difference until the GMC chasis
battery began to get low, then hitting the tie would see the diff in cranking. Just as we would expect.


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
Re: [GMCnet] I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357215 is a reply to message #357212] Sun, 26 July 2020 17:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Did you ever think about calling me and discussing your issue.
We help tons of people and it cost you little of your time.
My time is never valued in dollars as I do well on the Air filter side.


On Sun, Jul 26, 2020 at 3:04 PM Richard H Staples via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:

> Just brainstorming here...... Since the problem(s) all started after
> dropping the tanks, I'd check that work first. Any chance the hoses were
> kinked
> or misrouted when reinstalling tanks? Even the best repair shops have the
> occasional Newbie, or Friday afternoon syndrome. The fuel system is fairly
> simple (compared with trucks or fuel injected cars).
> Also, "cleaning the tanks" may have dislodged crud that landed
> elsewhere, like the mechanical fuel pump (another relatively cheap item to
> swap
> out). I recall one time I was running the parts department at a foreign
> car shop. A mechanic was replacing all the aged fuel hoses on a VW Type
> III,
> and I had given him a 20 meter or so box of hose to cut from. After a
> time I heard swearing from the shop, and the mechanic threw a piece of hose
> and
> some dead insects on my counter. The bugs had crawled into the hose in
> Germany and stayed to clog things up in Hadley, Massachusetts. Weird things
> happen!
>
> Sometimes when I didn't know the history of a vehicle, I'd try setting
> everything back to "stock" conditions and work from there, but you have to
> do
> it in order, or in your case, maybe all at once (tank to carb.) And as
> someone mentioned, it could be something else, like HEI module, cap, or
> rotor.
>
> I hope when the (justifiable) frustration ebbs, you'll be able to give it
> a slow, methodical try again. We're all here to help if we can.
>
> Rick Staples
>
> --
> Rick Staples, '75 Eleganza, Johnstown, CO
>
> "Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the Wise to the Wise, and all paths
> may run ill." -Tolkien
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>


--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357216 is a reply to message #357207] Sun, 26 July 2020 18:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
""" Worse case have a couple beer relax then throw a regulator on it (if you have a high pressure electric pump) and bypass the mechanical pump all together (leave it in)1....you just cant give up without a last ditch effort. Beside if it runs and you still want to get rid of it you'll get more $$ than if it doesnt.

Just an off question....This so called shop didnt plumb things at the sending unit backwards did they? """""


Have a couple beers----- I don't drink alcohol but I was drinking cold Pepsis'

Regulator??? Electrical??? I have electric meters on both the coach battery and the frame (motor) battery. Both indicated at least a voltage of 12.4v or higher.

I have not bypassed the mechanical fuel pump ever, that I can think of.
-- since the failure happened in trip, and add to that the external fuel can made no difference, it seems to make sense that
Mechanical fuel pump is the only thing that can be a problem.
The only thing left would be the carb filter, and then the carb. But the carb seemed to be performing as it needed to.
---- Someone mentioned that they thought I may be having fuel flashing the alcohol problems. I will look more into this but,
and this can seem to prove or disprove that train of thought - I was well into the trip before all this began to happen.
AFTER the power loss problem began, it didn't matter if the engine was cool or hot, the top speed was 25 - 35 mph.

The So called Shop -- I'm assuming you are talking about the shop that dropped the tanks and replaced the fuel lines.
-- I don't know what they did under there. I know they had issues with the fuel guage not working and had to spend time rewiring under there to get it working.
What I can say is I never had an engine power issue over thousands of miles, and I had speeds of 70-75 mph UNTIL that shop dropped those tanks and replaced the hoses. After the power problem occurred, they did not look at the tanks or hoses, they changed out other things, and ultimately did not cure any power issues.


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center

[Updated on: Mon, 27 July 2020 07:31]

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Re: [GMCnet] I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357217 is a reply to message #357209] Sun, 26 July 2020 18:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
No Message Body

GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center

[Updated on: Sun, 26 July 2020 18:37]

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Re: [GMCnet] I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357218 is a reply to message #357209] Sun, 26 July 2020 18:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
""" "" Sir: a couple of things that have worked for me on occasion. Blow shop air back into the tank with fill cap off a couple of good bursts to clear the pickup. If still having problems use a small c clamp or engineers clamp to clamp off auxiliary fuel line at switching valve in case valve isn’t closing off properly and sucking air from aux tank. On our coach the filters were staying clean because the pickups were stopped up and not allowing any dirt or much fuel thru. After blowing shop air in tank all sorts of brown stuff started showing up in filter in frame rail and we started running at truck speed without electric pump on. """

For what its worth, the tanks were nearly full of fuel. My thought is air could not get into the lines, at least not yet.
We were told to blow the socks off the fuellines in the tanks. that was done. The solenoid fuel valve was replaced with new.
The travel speeds came back when the electric fuel pump was added on the Reserve tank (to switch on with the reserve switch).
The Elec fuel pump was only intended to prime the carborator after the GMC sat for a long time, but it served a double duty after we
found it could restore the normal power for travel.

Now this may have you thinking that the engine mechanical pump would be the culprit, but we have changed out the fuel pump 4 times with
no difference in operation.

The original trial that focused the problem at the tanks/hoses was when I put an external fuel tank on the engine mechanical fuel pump, and we had all the power restored, 70 mph no problem. I did try this when trying to get back home, made no difference.


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center

[Updated on: Mon, 27 July 2020 07:29]

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Re: I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357219 is a reply to message #357212] Sun, 26 July 2020 18:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
""" Just brainstorming here...... Since the problem(s) all started after dropping the tanks, I'd check that work first. Any chance the hoses were kinked or misrouted when reinstalling tanks? Even the best repair shops have the occasional Newbie, or Friday afternoon syndrome. The fuel system is fairly simple (compared with trucks or fuel injected cars).
Also, "cleaning the tanks" may have dislodged crud that landed elsewhere, like the mechanical fuel pump (another relatively cheap item to swap out). I recall one time I was running the parts department at a foreign car shop. A mechanic was replacing all the aged fuel hoses on a VW Type III, and I had given him a 20 meter or so box of hose to cut from. After a time I heard swearing from the shop, and the mechanic threw a piece of hose and some dead insects on my counter. The bugs had crawled into the hose in Germany and stayed to clog things up in Hadley, Massachusetts. Weird things happen!

Sometimes when I didn't know the history of a vehicle, I'd try setting everything back to "stock" conditions and work from there, but you have to do it in order, or in your case, maybe all at once (tank to carb.) And as someone mentioned, it could be something else, like HEI module, cap, or rotor.

I hope when the (justifiable) frustration ebbs, you'll be able to give it a slow, methodical try again. We're all here to help if we can. """

========================

=== Yes the problem was born from the Tanks being dropped and the hoses changed out.
Those tanks were sent out and checked/cleaned and then re-installed. I didn't see them when installing back in the frame so no idea other than the problems with fuel as far as hoses go.

=== crud landing in the mechanical fuel pump would be tough, the fuel line has always had multiple fuel filters, no crud ever showed up on the filter material.
I have had the mech fuel pump changed out 4 times now.

=== After we took the tanks and hoses out of the picture, we began getting the power back.
This shop, after the power loss problem showed its ugly head, did not go after the tanks and hoses, they began changing out the carb. They said my
carb was not "spraying fuel" into the throat of the carb, it was dribbleing fuel. They went through 3 rebuilt carbs and non made any difference
in the power loss. The final carb came from a used GMC motorhome. Nocure and when My mechanic checked it, it was dribbling fuel down the carb
throat too. We have been through 4 carbs, including the one I now have.
They also changed my coil over to electronic and changed out the distributor with a used one. ???? I am a new GMC owner (at the time) and needed
to get home
so what am I going to say? and history shows, none of that corrected the power loss problem.


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center

[Updated on: Sun, 26 July 2020 18:53]

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Re: [GMCnet] I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357220 is a reply to message #357215] Sun, 26 July 2020 18:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
"""" Did you ever think about calling me and discussing your issue.
We help tons of people and it cost you little of your time.
My time is never valued in dollars as I do well on the Air filter side.""""



Hi Jim
Yes we have spoken about this issue several times. Some of you thoughts helped to
evaluate the source problem.
I have not had a working machine to get to Cinabar to have the tanks dropped and hoses replaced
but the elec fuel pump seemed to take care of that issue, until now.

Obviously something happened during the trip. I am very put out about this, all this time
and back to square one it seems. I will take a couple days and then maybe think about it
again. I may give up on the oem fuel system and hook an external tank to the fuel pump
and go from there.
I am thinking the fuel pump has died but I won't know until it can be tested by someone.
I have no shop or tools to do that.

But yes we have spoken about this mess, my grand introduction into GMC. Gotta drink to that.


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
Re: I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357221 is a reply to message #357219] Sun, 26 July 2020 18:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GatsbysCruise is currently offline  GatsbysCruise   United States
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
Senior Member
GatsbysCruise wrote on Sun, 26 July 2020 18:30
""" Just brainstorming here...... Since the problem(s) all started after dropping the tanks, I'd check that work first. Any chance the hoses were kinked or misrouted when reinstalling tanks? Even the best repair shops have the occasional Newbie, or Friday afternoon syndrome. The fuel system is fairly simple (compared with trucks or fuel injected cars).
Also, "cleaning the tanks" may have dislodged crud that landed elsewhere, like the mechanical fuel pump (another relatively cheap item to swap out). I recall one time I was running the parts department at a foreign car shop. A mechanic was replacing all the aged fuel hoses on a VW Type III, and I had given him a 20 meter or so box of hose to cut from. After a time I heard swearing from the shop, and the mechanic threw a piece of hose and some dead insects on my counter. The bugs had crawled into the hose in Germany and stayed to clog things up in Hadley, Massachusetts. Weird things happen!

Sometimes when I didn't know the history of a vehicle, I'd try setting everything back to "stock" conditions and work from there, but you have to do it in order, or in your case, maybe all at once (tank to carb.) And as someone mentioned, it could be something else, like HEI module, cap, or rotor.

I hope when the (justifiable) frustration ebbs, you'll be able to give it a slow, methodical try again. We're all here to help if we can. """

========================

=== Yes the problem was born from the Tanks being dropped and the hoses changed out.
Those tanks were sent out and checked/cleaned and then re-installed. I didn't see them when installing back in the frame so no idea other than the problems with fuel as far as hoses go.

=== crud landing in the mechanical fuel pump would be tough, the fuel line has always had multiple fuel filters, no crud ever showed up on the filter material.
I have had the mech fuel pump changed out 4 times now.

=== After we took the tanks and hoses out of the picture, we began getting the power back.
This shop, after the power loss problem showed its ugly head, did not go after the tanks and hoses, they began changing out the carb. They said my
carb was not "spraying fuel" into the throat of the carb, it was dribbleing fuel. They went through 3 rebuilt carbs and non made any difference
in the power loss. The final carb came from a used GMC motorhome. No cure and when My mechanic checked it, it was dribbling fuel down the carb
throat too. We have been through 4 carbs, including the one I now have.
They also changed my coil over to electronic and changed out the distributor with a used one. ???? I am a new GMC owner (at the time) and needed
to get home so what am I going to say? and history shows, none of that corrected the power loss problem.


GatsbysCruise. \ 74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \ Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
Re: I THINK I AM THROWING IN THE TOWEL [message #357222 is a reply to message #357198] Sun, 26 July 2020 19:34 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
6cuda6 is currently offline  6cuda6   Canada
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
Senior Member
I find it odd that your electric pump isnt feeding the carb.....if the diaphram is bad in the mec pump you would think the elec would push the fuel through.

What air cleaner do you have? Is their fuel squirting out of the accel pumps when you hit the throttle? It is possible that your float in the carb is sticking/ hanging closed?

At least take a stab at it and bypass the mec pump altogether and see what happens.... 4 bad pumps i find odd unless its working really hard to pull fuel through from the elec pump.

Did they do snything with the lines from the mec pump to the fuel "T"?


Rich Mondor, Brockville, ON 77 Hughes 2600
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