Jacques van Heerden
New Member
I have 45 x 15KW Cummins(4B3.9-G2) Gensets to power emergency sirens on a 40km gas pipe line in case of a leak that I do maintenance on. The units have remote GPS start signals to start the generators in an emergency. We do testing every 2 weeks. Tests are done to function test and we run for an hour to charge batteries. Every 2 weeks there is at least 10 or more generators that won't start and have to be manually primed before they start. The engines are equipped manual plunger prime pumps (I see Cummins calls them Fuel transfer pumps and is driven by the engine once running). We have good quality low cracking pressure non-return valve on the inlet fuel hoses and it appears that there is actually fuel in the hose (semi see through) yet some times they have to be manually pumped up before they will start. I need these engine to run first time every time once a start signal is given... where do I start to check the priming issue? I've seen an article saying that the injection pump might loose its prime via the fuel return line when stationary. Is that possible? how to I fix it. Thanks, J.