Do I have 'water in my fuel?'

[Ol George]

I have an old Cat 12 Grader (S/N 71D438) it sat for about 3 months and now it won't start. There was only one good rain and while trying to figure out why it would not start, I opened the fuel injection panel, I noticed a bit of light rust. It starts and runs as long as I spray starting fluid into the air intake - I know that is not good for my engine but it helps to see what's going on... I removed the fuel injection pump top and fuel is coming out when the engine turns over.

So I think it's getting fuel. I suspect it has water in it though. Would that completely prevent it from starting? Should I just drain the tank, bleed the lines and start from scratch? (I guess it's worth it even with the price of fuel) And... how can I tell if there is moisture or water present in the fuel? I've heard of a way with a piece of paper or something like that but cannot recall how the test works.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated - a lot.
Thanks, Ol George.

[Old Magnet]

If you suspect water in the fuel, drain off the bottom of the fuel tank through the drain valve to see if you get any water.
When you had the cover of the fuel injection pump housing did you notice if the rack was moving in response to the governor/throttle movement? May be the rack is sticking to where you get fuel when you bleed but not enough to start/run the engine. Fairly common problem when left sitting for some time.

[ccjersey]

Your engine is equipped to remove reasonable amounts of water and allow them to be drained from the bottom of the filter housing and tank drains. If it looks like fuel and doesn't obviously have water in it, then it should work just fine, until the filters plug up. Fuel with water contamination can grow stuff that will plug filters like nothing else known to man! But this is obvious, large amounts of black to brown soft gunk on the filters and no fuel pressure.

Won't hurt to drain any water and sludge from tank and filter housing, bleed it and check fuel pressure. It may not get up into the green range with just the pony motor turning it, but it should register some pressure on the gauge.

I expect the rack is stuck in the fuel cutoff position and you may also have one or more pump plungers stuck up and not returning as the cam lobe below them rotates by. The one that are stuck up also won't usually allow the rack to move back and forth. So spray them with lubricant and work them up and down with a screwdriver etc.. Then when all of them are working up and down well, watch the rack move back and forth as you open and close the throttle.

You should get fuel out the top of the pumps once you get the rack operating properly and the filters bled etc. bleed all the air at the top of each pump or at the injector and then tighten each line in turn and it should begin to make the white smoke!

[Ol George]

First of all... THANKS for the information. the rack is stuck. Last time I had the cover off, I thought the rack was moving when I activated the throddle but this time, when it didn't move, I just couldn't remember if it did the time before. Now I know. Thanks again. I would have regretted removing and replacing the 45 gal of diesel I have in the tank. $$!
I'll get to work on it and let you know.

[Ol George]

Well, all I can say is THANKS... Thanks a lot!
I got to work on freeing up the pump plungers; the rack then was free to move as the governor / throddle was activated, and then like magic, the grader started just like it's supposed to!
I tell you what, this forum is the best. The experts and old timers here not only know what they're talking about, they are friendly and willing to assist a novice like myself.
I use my old grader to help with maintaining the dirt roads where I live; I don't ask for anything but I will accept some money for fuel and maintenance. So, when help is passed on like the kind I get here, it is enlightening... and I am thankful.
Well, guess I better get out there and see if I can do some cutt'in and fill'in.

Oh and I think I'll start up the grader every Sunday morning - Religiously.