Got Witte...Now what

[bschwartz]

My fuel pump (with the glass dome on top) has an air pocket I need to bleed out of the system. The injection pump has a square top screw on top.  Is it the bleed hole, or something else?

[mobile_bob]

does the engine run now?

i suspect it is running and will continue to do so even with that little
air bubble in the fuel bowl.

my memory is foggy this am,  the name of the filter escapes me just now, but..
many hd trucks use an upside down bowl filter system (much larger of course)
that has almost all air in the lexan bowl.

you change the filter when the fuel level over time climbs up into the bowl and there
is very little air left. apparently the fuel climbs up due to the filter clogging the element, as it
climbs up it finds fresh element and flows through there.

point being air in the upper part of the bowl won't find its way into the injection system, at least not in amounts that will cause a loss of power or stalling of the engine.

as for that plug, i would be very surprised if it is a bleeder.

bob g

[Thob]

I agree with Bob - it doesn't look like there's a way to get the air out of the bowl.  If it runs, leave it alone.  Air will dissolve in fuel (slowly) so the bubble will disappear over time.  I've heard the bit about the fuel filter needs to be changed when the air bubble is gone, I'm not sure I agree with that.  Fuel pressure would tell the real story about when to change the filter.

What is that bottle that is hay-wired to the fuel pump?  Is that your fuel tank? 


Casey -

Thanks for posting these Wittes.  One day, it will be my turn to get one!

[LowGear]

I turn to David Johnson every once in a while too.  He really knows his Wittes and Arrow engines as this is where he works.

I also have a search saved on Ebay for "Witte".

Casey

[deeiche]

I hope another one shows up in New Mexico.  There was the one outside Hondo Brett and I passed on, then this one.  Sounded like Brett had a bigger need than I did.

The delivery included part made this an even better deal.

[bschwartz]

   "What is that bottle that is hay-wired to the fuel pump?  Is that your fuel tank? "

Yes, Casey.  That is my temporary "does this thing even run" test fuel tank (bottle)

   "i suspect it is running and will continue to do so even with that little
air bubble in the fuel bowl."

Bob, it is running, but missing more than hitting (like it is getting air).
If you look at the filter/fuel pump, the fuel enters the glass area from the bottom, and has to get to the level it is at now, then flows into the center finely screened area, then to the IP.  As the fuel is right at the screened level, it is allowing air and fuel to enter the system.

[LowGear]

OK!  You shamed me into it.  I went out and looked at mine.  It's got about an inch of air in it.  Thank God I'm too ignorant to notice or mine might be missing real bad too.

If you think that shouldn't be there then loosen the line at the injector pump and turn it over a 25 (nice round number) times and see if it goes away.  I'm thinking it's just the way they are.  I'll drop David an email with this thread linked.

Does it start easy?

Casey

[bschwartz]

NO, it does NOT start easily.  I thought air could be the problem.....
I decided to remove the injector to take a look at it's condition.

It looks like it hasn't been cleaned in 30 years.

What is a SAFE way to clean the injector and housing without causing any damage to unobtainable parts?  There is a bunch of carbon on the tip, and I don't want to scrape it with anything that may scratch or damage the tip.

For the housing, can I just carefully tape/cover the tip and injector line attachment, and bead blast the assembly whole?


Thanks.

[bschwartz]

Add to the last question, what parts of the injector can I take apart without causing damage, or needing to recalibrate anything.

Thanks again.

[bschwartz]

This is what the injector looks like...

[LowGear]

A:) 

Thank God I'm too ignorant to notice or mine might be missing real bad too.

2.) 
I'm almost as interested as you.  Unfortunately I'm little more than a tourist.   

Did you happen to put the injector pump supply line into a jar and see if it was being delivered air?

Casey

[bschwartz]

OK.... I decided to do another test.
I connected the injector to the line and cranked the engine.  

Instead of popping with a nice fine mist, it more squirts.

Is this something I can clean up myself.  I know a good diesel/injector shop would be recommended, but the nearest one is probably at LEAST 75 miles away.

Would you use the technique in this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP-0mpkoom8

[bschwartz]

   "Did you happen to put the injector pump supply line into a jar and see if it was being delivered air?"

Nope.  That would have been a smart thing to do.