Engine Startup

I've never worked with a diesel engine before. Karma has a Universal 24 HP 3 cylinder diesel engine. After reinstalling the fuel tank it was time to fire her up. I connected a hose between the raw water intake and the bilge. Then flooded the bilge so that there would be coolant and fired her up.

Needless to say I was very pleased....

Fuel Tank Replacement

After the general clean up, clean up and more clean up... diesel fuel doesn't give up easy. Came the fuel tank replacement.

Evidence indicates that there had been a chronic leak of the grab rail mounts in the floor of the cockpit. This leak rotted the 3/4 inch backing board in the floor of the cockpit.

The cockpit floor was still sound however the backing board was mush. The original installation of the backing board was glassed in which hid the leaking and did not allow the board to dry out.

This eventually caused the aluminum fuel tank to rupture with pinhole size leaks along the forward bottom edge of the tank.

After removing the tank I was able to install the new backing board. No small task, we're taking about completely removing the wheel, pedestal and all the associated cables and wires; epoxying in the new backing board and then reinstalling the pedestal and controls. >

I was able to have a new fuel tank build for me by the original manufacture and reinstalled it along with new Racor fuel filter and water separater.