MEP-005 fuel pump/filter questions

[2Pbfeet]

Count me in as a homemade schnapps fan! Many moons ago, we were coming back from @Guyfang's neck of the woods with half a dozen plus bottles of homemade schnapps from various friends. At customs, I declared it all, and then thought "Oh crap", as it was all clear liquid in unlabeled bottles, and I hoped that it wouldn't be confiscated. The customs agent was super nice about it, and not only didn't charge us duty, but wished us a "Happy New Years". (It was New Year's Eve.)

But back to the fuel pump cleaning; if you don't have pure ethanol around (even with magic fuel oil, the poison), acetone works as a pretty big upgrade as a gum solvent on 70% isopropanol (the common rubbing alcohol). Non-chlorinated brake cleaner is mostly acetone. I've been known to add acetone to a ziplock with parts, and toss the bag in an ultrasonic cleaner, but I have not ever done it with these pumps, where I would worry about the wires and coils inside the housing.

All the best, 2PbFeet

 

[Guyfang]

The best beer in the world comes from Europe.
The best European beer comes from Germany.
The best German beer comes from Bavaria.
The best Bavarian beer comes from Franken.
The best Frankish beer comes from Ober Franken.

Three guesses where I live, and the first two don't count.

 

[flydude92]

That was the one that was so badly gummed up I couldn't get the Piston out and had to resort to 120 PSI of compressed air into the output. This was successful in the disassembly of the pump at the cost of minor hearing loss and a little bit of sheetrock.

I was finally able to get the piston out using a modified version of @Scoobyshep procedure.
I soaked it overnight in denatured alcohol per @peapvp. Using 50psi the washer, 'O' ring and check valve came out.
120psi didn't work for the piston so I soaked it overnight again with denatured alcohol. This time I applied 150psi and
put the cover back on to retain the piston. Well, that worked, with a bang. It turns out if you do this you should remove
the magnet or it will end up in lots of pieces. I planned to remove it but forgot.
Also a rag or something to cushion the piston is a good idea. I cleaned the pump and both pumps passed the volume test.

Thanks for everyone's help

 

[peapvp]

I was finally able to get the piston out using a modified version of @Scoobyshep procedure.
I soaked it overnight in denatured alcohol per @peapvp. Using 50psi the washer, 'O' ring and check valve came out.
120psi didn't work for the piston so I soaked it overnight again with denatured alcohol. This time I applied 150psi and
put the cover back on to retain the piston. Well, that worked, with a bang. It turns out if you do this you should remove
the magnet or it will end up in lots of pieces. I planned to remove it but forgot.
Also a rag or something to cushion the piston is a good idea. I cleaned the pump and both pumps passed the volume test.

Thanks for everyone's help

One tip for future reference:

Whenever these gensets are not operated for several month and no diesel treatment has been added, then these pumps and filters tend to sludge up.

I usually run denatured alcohol from pump inlet through all filters and water separator into a clear container after draining those 3 first. This usually takes 2 to 4 Gallons of denatured alcohol and cleans this section of the fuel system completely. This works only when pumps are still operational.

You do not want to get this denatured alcohol into the IP and injectors. The tank should also be spiffy clean including the lines to the pumps.

Once all this has been cleaned, fresh Diesel with treatment should be added to tank and then run through IP and Injectors.