Controls for Universal Diesel model 5432 Blower on off toggle switch, glow plug spring return toggle switch, Low oil pressure light, Key Switch to power instruments, oil light, and fuel pump. Full turn on key switch engages starter. Temperature gauge, Fuel Gauge and Amp meter. Right above the label Universal Atomic there is room for the Tiny Tach.
Mechanical Fuel Pump on Universal 5432 In front of the secondary filter.
Mechanical Fuel Pump removed from engine showing the linear actuator/plunger that rides the cam in the engine and oscillates the diaphragm on the pump.
The cover removed from the mechanical fuel pump showing the two valves. The inlet valve opens when the diaphragm goes toward the engine and the outlet valve opens when the diaphragm goes away from the engine.
I bypassed the old mechanical fuel pump with an electric pump after a year of problems with getting fuel to the engine. The first time was on the Hudson River just below the Tapenzee bridge, then in the north channel, the next year it had trouble starting in the spring, and stalled in the night on our way from Green Bay to Menominee to our new slip for the summer etc. Finally one time no amount of changing fuel filters and bleeding effort would get fuel to flow. Disassembly of the mechanical pump revealed a piece of rubber hose jammed in the inlet valve. Reassembly and bleeding allowed us to run the engine at idle to recharge the battery for about two hours at 1000 RPM, I was pretty happy.
However, the next day we put it back up to high cruising speed and a few moments later the exhaust got a bit blue so I shut her down immediately and sailed back to an anchorage area. Evidently, the diaphragm sprung a leak and let the fuel get into the crankcase. This happened about a month after our older son was telling us about his diesel tractor's fuel pump that filled up the crankcase. That put me over the edge and we installed an electric pump that looks a lot like a Facet and changed the oil. The Facet pumps come in a variety of output pressure limits. I don't know which one I have. In 2011 I ordered a new Facet pump. FEP 60SV at 3 to 4psi. $103 with shipping on e-bay.
The electric pump is hydraulically/schematically installed right after the primary Racor filter and just prior to the secondary filter on the engine. This is the same as it was with the mechanical pump. A fuse was added in the wire coming from the ignition switch, and a ground wire runs from the fuel pump's bracket to one of the bolts on the engine. I really do not know who made the fuel pump, but Rick says he bought one from Steward Warner for under $35.00 if my memory is good. Mine does not look like any of the three in the SW catalog and it cost about $150 at a Marina while I was out of town.
I left the old mechanical pump in place and simply connected the output to the input. I did get a backup mechanical pump from a local Kubota dealer, but it was like pulling hen's teeth and took a long time, but it was not expensive. The new back up will stay in a duffle bag until I have to motor in an electrically quit zone with no alternator or electric fuel pump.
The back up mechanical pump is Kuboda part number for the pump is KUB 15263-52030.
The gasket is KUB 1A021-52140
You'll love electric. Air can be pumped out of the system by just opening the bleed valve after the ignition is on. No need to open plugs to check for fuel spilling out. It is also possible to pump out the fuel tank without running the engine by connecting a different tube to the bleed valve on a temporary basis. It pumps about 10 gallons per hour. I ended up using it to verify my fuel gauge on the operator's panel. On empty it only had one quart left.
I'd like to find a cover that could take the place of the old unused mechanical pump so the engine needs to push on one less extra actuator. e-mail me if you found a reasonably priced one. For now I plan to order cover P/N 299822 and gasket P/N 299426 from Torrenson.com. About $18 Jan 04' . Turned out I installed a new mechanical pump in the summer of 2006 as the electrical pump stopped working occasionally.
This page started on November 15, 2002
This page was last updated on: January 4, 2017
Added Kubota part number for Mechanical Fuel Pump 21 Oct 08'
