Cheappie fuel pumps.

[bogbasic]

Hello, does anyone know if a £12 fuel pump, like the one below, would work on a moggie ;-?



It is a low-pressure pump and I know that sort works well on an 80's Volvo with a recirculating fuel system. On said Volvo I have it in series with the mechanical pump for use when the latter isn't pulling petrol well enough to start the car e.g. if there's a big airlock in the pipe, as often happens ;-0

It's light enough to put it in the fuel line between the main pump on a moggie and the carb.

I am asking to try to help someone who has just got a moggie with an iffy pump and getting a new standard pump might be a bridge too far right now.

Cheers for looking.

[les]

I don’t think you will get any recommendations for that pump here, your friend should buy the real thing, when he can. Of course, he could buy a £12 pump and experiment.

[bogbasic]

Thank you, agreed. I think the pressure would probably be too high without an overflow pipe back to the tank, but you never know. I might test it myself one day - just thought somebody might have tried it out already.

[rocco]

I bought one of those pumps last year intending to use it only in an emergency. I'd never recommend using one as a replacement to an "iffy" SU pump. I would recommend fixing or servicing the SU, or even just replacing it with a working one. Repair kits are not all that expensive.

https://sucarb.co.uk/carbspec/carburett ... s/id/1899/

[geoberni]

There is a prevalent mindset in western culture since the 1970s that replacement take priority over repair.
This is now changing with not only legislation in some countries or continents, but also locally with 'Repair Cafe' events.

If the existing pump is an original SU then if only 'iffy', it might very easily just need the points cleaning or perhaps replacing.
Just service the darn thing; it's probably not been looked at for 30-40 years,instead of being regularly looked at every year.

Don't buy one of those nasty constantly running motorised pumps.

That 'Low Pressure' pump you illustrate, Pt No HEP-02A might be advertised as 'Low Pressure' but a quick look at the Spec shows me that its output pressure is 3-6 psi. See here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/376233675184
That's 2 - 4 times the spec of the SU, which means the Carb Float Valve is getting potentially 4 times it's designed pressure, therefore likely to cause fuel spillage from the Float Chamber vent.

Those nasty little pumps are a danger in the hands of the unknowing Joe Public....

[myoldjalopy]

Rarely do the SU pumps fail, and if they do it is usually dirty or worn points, as mentioned above. I have only had a failing pump twice in over 40 years of driving Morris Minors (different cars, different pumps) - in both cases it was the points which needed replacing.

[Bill_qaz]

I carry one of these for emergency, easy to fit, no electrics, light and rolls up to store in boot. When connected between pump output and pipe to carburettor the bulb will reach passenger quarterlight if you needed to drive a distance

Screenshot_20250522-100627_eBay.jpg (104.22 KiB) Viewed 1327 times

[oliver90owner]

Of course it could work - but it would require appropriate pressure regulation!

The pressure indicated is, as pointed out, too high.

The capacity, shown on the sales site, indicate a volumetric supply far in excess of fuel usage in a Minor - 70 litres/hour is more than 10 times the typical maximum fuel usage for the car.

The last consideration would be value of expenditure - the typical fuel pump as originally fitted to the car likely lasted 20 years as a minimum. How long would you expect from these ‘cheapie’ pumps? I would suggest they are not actually a cheap option.

Simple analysis/comparison for the application of this type of pump immediately leads me to the conclusion of the other respondents.

[bogbasic]

Nice one. I like the idea of getting the missus to pump the petrol, arf. I can see the old carb teeing petrol out from every seal ;-0 ;-0

[Bill_qaz]

Nice one. I like the idea of getting the missus to pump the petrol, arf. I can see the old carb teeing petrol out from every seal ;-0 ;-0

A true co-driver at work.

[rocco]

I carry one of these for emergency, easy to fit, no electrics, light and rolls up to store in boot. When connected between pump output and pipe to carburettor the bulb will reach passenger quarterlight if you needed to drive a distance

Just curious, how many squeezes per mile do you need to make?

[Bill_qaz]

I carry one of these for emergency, easy to fit, no electrics, light and rolls up to store in boot. When connected between pump output and pipe to carburettor the bulb will reach passenger quarterlight if you needed to drive a distance

Just curious, how many squeezes per mile do you need to make?

I'll let you know if fuel pump fails
Its surprising how far one float bowl will go
but seriously the idea is to be able to move the car to somewhere safe. I use mostly back roads in my area and wouldn't like to be sitting broken down waiting to be hit.
Maybe a bit paranoid but have 4 way flashers and have plug in flashing beacon.