More fuel system progress and electrical efforts

 Another overnight on Aeolus and made progress on diagnosing and fixing my engine dying problem. Previously, I reported on my suspicions with a vacuum leak. On this trip, I brought along my clear hose and installed a stretch between the existing three way fuel valve and the Racor 500. Sure enough, when I turned the fuel pump on that draws suction on this side, I was getting air bubbles. I would get more air bubbles when I switched the valve off and on, simulating start up. 

So I installed the new ball valve style and connected the same clear hose and no bubbles. Hooray! 

New ball valve not  yet mounted. No leaks!

Going forward, I still have several projects to do. I will replace the ancient Racor 200 backup filter that is really nothing but trouble. The priming pump doesn't work anymore and is likely a source of vacuum leak, the ball valve nightmare I've written about before is a poor design, and since I already have a Racor 500 I can avoid having to store different types of filters on the boat. I already have the new Racor 500 with a heat shield on order. I also have an additional three way ball valve to replace the second of that style in this system. For all I know now it is also a source of vacuum leak, but I haven't tested it. Doesn't matter, I don't trust those and it's getting replaced. 

Also going forward I will routinely open the bleed valve to siphon off any accumulated air that SHOULD NOT be in the system anyway. 

While aboard I also installed my new PVC oil catch can to reduce the amount of vaporized oil I was feeding into my air intake. I found it oiled up my KN air filter too quickly and don't like the thought of whatever it was doing to my intake valves and combustion chamber. 

New oil catch can installed. You can see the direct route from the crankcase breather. Ater taking this photo I ran the output back into the KN Air filter that has a hose fitting mounted into it. 

Also finished up installing heat shrink on the newly formed terminal block crimps and then lightly coated each junction at the terminal block with No Ox ID Special A as that area sits in a bath of crap.