Bleeder screw washer

[shepp]

If fuel was coming from behind the locating screws it would have to travel UPWARDS to appear on the top of the cover plate - it is much more likely to travel DOWNWARDS into the cambox in such circumstances especially with no cork gasket present! A more likely scenario is that it is weeping from a crack onto the top of the cover plate and finding its way down the joint between the cover plate and the pump body and some has rested on the screw heads giving the false impression that that is where the leak is.

[leeroy]

The barrel locating screws should have fibre washers to seal the barrels. There is no adjustment in them, but you will need to release the tension in the spring on that cylinder (turn the engine slowly until that plunger has moved down, then see what the tension is) before removing them to fit new washers. Those are cylinders 1 and 3 (firing order 1,2,4,3). I recommend you try tightening the screws and pumping again to see if the leak stops, if it doesn't you'll need new washers.
The lack of gasket is not good, as it allows dirt in; there are no lock washers on the cover. Remember to be absolutely clean when doing all these things.
Sandy

Thanks Sandy.
So it wont hurt anything to snug up the screws without doing anything else? Or do I need to release tension as if I was going to remove them?
Gasket and fibre washers are ordered.

[leeroy]

If fuel was coming from behind the locating screws it would have to travel UPWARDS to appear on the top of the cover plate - it is much more likely to travel DOWNWARDS into the cambox in such circumstances especially with no cork gasket present! A more likely scenario is that it is weeping from a crack onto the top of the cover plate and finding its way down the joint between the cover plate and the pump body and some has rested on the screw heads giving the false impression that that is where the leak is.

Schepp I hope you dont lose patience with me as I need all the help I can get! With that said, the weeping is coming from those screws.No other place. With the cover off I wiped everything dry. Seconds later fuel appears at those two screws. Wipe it off and it quickly reappears, over and over. this is not running, only a prime with lift pump. Unless there is a crack right there where the two screws are weeping?
As far as the fuel travelling upwards I can only guess its taking the path of least resistance?

[Billy26F5]

You'll be fine to tighten them up in situ (I still recommend having the plunger at the bottom of its stroke), don't disturb the ones that aren't leaking.
I think it could well have gone either way (up and down) when you consider the quality of the surface on the cover and the fuel gallery and the pressures involved (especially when running), also considering the effect of dirt attracting fuel up and how diesel can move up a clean surface (an effect I see every day in all our fuel leaks). I would be very surprised if there were very similar cracks so far away on the same pump.
Sandy

[shepp]

You will just have to change the fibre washers (they will have gone hard) , tighten the screws and see what happens. I can envisage some of the modern synthetic oils creeping up a surface, they are designed to do that, but diesel will only do that via a capillary action in a narrow space, but you could be lucky and find out that is what is actually happening, good luck!

[leeroy]

Thanks Sandy!! With plunger at bottom of stroke I snugged up the two suspect screws-less than 1/8 of a turn each- and the leak stopped! I ran her for a few minutes with cover off and it stayed dry there so I put the cover on and went for a quick ride in the woods. I kept an eye on the pump and it stayed dry!
Backed her in the barn and noticed the fuel dribbling out that pigtail pipe again. Still hoping for no cracks. Left her running to observe quanity, it did not change with high rpm or slow idle. Soon it stopped and even revving her up there was nothing aside of a very minute, barely a bubble drip every few minutes.
I did go up a steep incline heading into the woods, and down that same incline right before backing in barn.
May be coincidental, but think I noticed this shortly after slight timing adjustment. Maybe I need to double check it, although she starts and runs great.

[Billy26F5]

Sounds good, the pig tail dribble then stop sounds like the pump was returning to its correct level in the cambox. I recommend you wait till the new gasket is fitted before you run again. A timing check is never a bad idea.
Sandy

[leeroy]

Gasket should be here Monday or Tuesday.
Meanwhile- should I clean up behind that cover? If so, how? Air, what type of cleaning agent?

[Billy26F5]

It is worth cleaning it, but you have to be sure no dirt gets in from outside. Using some diesel is the best way as it avoids needing to flush something else out with diesel.
Sandy

[SvendH]

Leeroy if it were my pump I would giv her a solid shot of clean engine into the cambox,screw on the cover(with the new gasket) as you chant “hail Mary”,and with a bit of luck you will have a trouble free pump the next 10-20 years
Svend

[leeroy]

New gasket arrived and installed. Got a seal kit as well, hoping to keep it in the parts bin.
Thanks again everyone!