440 Express Bridge -Fuel Selector Panel / Valve Replacement.

CaptMark

New Member
Feb 15, 2015
13
Marathon, Florida
Boat Info
1995 SeaRay 44' Express Bridge
2004 Sea Fox 230
Engines
Cat 3116
We've had our 440 Express Bridge for about a year now. We have only put about 25 hours on the engines in that time and are very diligent in fueling after each outing.

We did a 8 hour run down to the Florida Key and upon arrival noticed the boat listing. The port fuel tank was almost empty and the starboard tank full.

In my battery compartment under the bridge steps, I have three fuel valves. One for each engine and one for the generator

The PORT engine was set to PORT. The STARBORD engine was set to STARBOARD.

In my mind then logically the boat would drain evenly from each tank. I could see a sight difference as one engine has been replaced by the previous owner, but overall they run evenly.

One of the valves (PORT) rotates a you can change the position. The other two seem frozen.

So, I pulled the panel apart where the fuel selector valves are. From the rear, I identified three 6-position valves.

There are no identification plates or numbers on then. The only thing I can find in the Sea Ray manual is a Part Number of: 171728 but I can't match that up anywhere.

QUESTIONS:

Has anyone replaced their valves? or have a part number?

Does my logic of replacing the valves make sense? I think once I find the right part, it will be a straight forward project.


Mark
 

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THe part numbers in the Sea Ray parts manuals are internal numbers and don't relate to anything outside of Sea Ray. The fuel valves are 2 gang valves that set both the fuel flow and the return fuel to the tanks. It sounds like you are using fuel from both tanks but only returning to t he full one. Unless the internal ball assembly in the valve is broken, there isn't any way that can happen, so I think you are on the right track. You might try idling the port engine and removing the return line from the tank and see if you have flow there. If you decide to replace t he valves, I think this is what you are looking for:

Screen Shot 2016-02-21 at 2.32.09 PM.jpg
 
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Frank,
Tryjng to learn diesels....If one side is not returning fuel to the tank, where is the fuel going?

Thanks,
Bennett
 
Based on your description another possibility is that both of your engines are pulling from/returning to the port tank. Which would mean the lines to the valve are swapped on one of the valves, from where they should be.

On my installation the lines from the tanks connect to the port valve and a T is used to run them from the port valve to the starboard valve. Based on your picture it looks like yours may be set up the same. See if the short loop from one valve to the other are connected to the same location on each valve.
 
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It would be going to the other tank. But the valves Sea Ray uses prevents the return from being misdirected because the valve stem operates both ends of the valve. The other possibility in the op's case is somebody twisted the valve handle on a stuck valve hard enough to strip the handle base out and it is turning on the shaft.
 
It would be going to the other tank. But the valves Sea Ray uses prevents the return from being misdirected because the valve stem operates both ends of the valve. The other possibility in the op's case is somebody twisted the valve handle on a stuck valve hard enough to strip the handle base out and it is turning on the shaft.

Thanks for the explanation.

Bennett
 
Just as an update...

The fuel selector valves that Sea Ray has used on most of their boat are made by ANDERSON BRASS COMPANY out of Charlotte, NC. http://www.andersonbrass.com/

They are still in business and tremendously helpful. The Part number on the larger Sea Ray boats (with dual fuel tanks) is SK1036.

Anderson Brass makes these 6-Port Selector valves for both Sea Ray as well as the military. They are $210 each through an Anderson Dealer..

I figure while I'm in there, I might as well replace all three. Not going to be a fun project, but better to do them all at once rather than to have one of the original ones fail later down the road.

100_se18.jpg
 

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