Bongo Fury

Hi all.

My bongo has been loosing power gradually over several months. I have a flat spot around 2000 - 3000 RPM when it feels breathless, then all of a sudden picks up.

I have been through the filters including the banjo, several times. The problem is only there when the engine is warmed up. It starts lumpy too yet the glow plugs are fine. I have checked and replaced the pipe from in inlet pipe to injector pump.

So, I am suspecting pump/injectors. If you have had yours done, what was the reason and what difference did it make?

Oh... and what was the cost?

Any knowledge would be great. Thanks

Mine wasn't losing power.....it just died.....however after I sent it to Bell Hill, the main cause of mine was the rotor in the diesel pump was breaking up and filled the injectors with metal swarf.......now.....don't take this as literal....

Bell Hill went over mine with a fine tooth comb so to speak and even after a new diesel pump was fitted......there was a misfire at high revs. They did cure it though........ the injectors were removed and they were soaked in a caustic cleaner they use.....not once but 3 times.... ....... Tom said they always remove and soak the injectors on a full service at Bell Hill.......Might be worth a call to see what they use.....or just try some injector cleaner in the 1st instance

Cheers Mike - new pump

Have used additive cleaner, but no gains there. Will speak to Bell Hill or Ian Taylor.

I removed, stripped, cleaned, reassembled and refitted my injectors yesterday. Starts better, but still a loss of power when warmed up, so I am handing it over to a Bongo specialist today. Will report back with any results.

Hi
If you get a chance , It's sometimes worth taking the injectors to a lucas specialist...they clean and blast them, and run them to "burst pressure"...or that's what they've described their test as , when i've used them....not expensive, and way cheaper than new
Cheers
Helen

Thanks Helen.

I am confident that the injectors are spotless after my cleaning them, although can't say whether the opening pressure is spot on. I am suspecting something in the pump sticking, eg. the boost compensator. I have had a look in the top of the pump with the diaphram removed, and the plunger does not appear to be moving as it should with the engine running. I know the pressure to the diaphragm is good, and that the cone operated by the diaphram moves freely, however if the plunger is not contacting the cone because it is sticking, then it won't be increasing the scheduled fuel when the boost pressure increases. As the plunger runs in fuel, for lubrication, this may explain why I don't get the problem when running a strong mix of veg oil, due to the improved lubricity over straight low sulpha diesel.

So, probably will be a pump change, but due to work commitments I don’t have time to do it myself, and having never removed a injector pump before, I am worried about messing up the timing. Give me a jet engine any day!