Petrol pump breaker points

Post by **pingis** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:18 pm

Hello all. Long time no write. I have spent most of the summer building a garage instead of enjoying retro motoring. The Moggy's petrol pump has been behaving a bit strange all summer and lately it has been really bad. I removed the cover hiding the breaker points today and actually got the pump working. Not pefect and 100% reliable but at least working. I believe the cure would be a new set of breaker points. I read an old discussion here and someone said single points would be the correct choice. Is there only one version of single points? Doesn't the age and capacity of the pump matter?

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:35 pm

only one version of single points for the SU pump as far as I know.
Double points are available but there's no great benefit.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:35 pm

I believe all much of a muchness. Don't see any harm in double points myself! Probably get them at Burlen - http://www.burlen.co.uk/

Post by **pingis** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:05 pm

Thank you for the quick reply bmcecosse. So I can fit the first set of points that shows up. Brilliant. To me it sounds as if you'd have to have a single or double point pump to be able to fit them. Being able to just buy whatever shows up first makes it much easier. I'll have a look at Burlen's site. thanks again!

Post by **pingis** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:40 pm

And, naturally, Thank You rayofleamington for your reply too. I didn't notice there were two new messages.

Post by **pingis** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:44 pm

Today I received new breaker points from Bath. Now I only have to replace the old ones. It is getting really cold up here in Sweden so I thought I'd ask before I start figuring out how to do it by myself: What's the best plan - removing the petrol pump and do the job indoors or replace the breaker points when the pump is still fitted in the car?

Post by **Jefftav** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:30 pm

I think you could manage it with the pump on the car but if it hasn't been used for a while take it off the car and do it indoors as this will also give you a chance to clean all the connection as well clean out the filter on the underside of the pump. You can also then stay reasonably warm.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:16 pm

As long as the fuel pipe union can be undone, then the job is much easier 'off the car'.
just remember where everything was before you took it apart (or use a few photos) and then the only real technical part is to screw the pintse lever on far enough that the points open to approximately the right gap.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:52 pm

Count how many turns the old part takes to come off - and put the new one on same number of turns. I would do indoors - then if anything falls you have a chance of finding it! The fuel pump rebuild is detiled from page B3 onwards of the Workshop Manual.

Post by **pingis** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:12 pm

Thanks for the advice. Perhaps I'll bring the fuel pump indoors this weekend. It depends on the outdoor temperature. It feels like around Christmas outside my door. I suppose you all know how clumsy you get when the fingers are about to freeze over. I'll be all alone this weekend. It could be quite cosy sitting in front of the telly with a lit fire working on the fuel pump. And nobody complaining about me turning the living room into a garage...

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 12:30 am

Just make sure there is no petrol in the pump!

Post by **Chris Morley** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 12:41 am

As long as the fuel pipe union can be undone, then the job is much easier 'off the car'.

This can be a problem, be careful of putting a twist in the fuel pipe if the nut sticks.