Morris Minor Owners Club

Dear all,

As I was going on the motorway with my 1954 Morris Minor, my fuel supply suddenly stopped. It did a sound which repeated twice before the engine shut down. The RAC told me it my fuel pump as the filter which is between the fuel pump and the carburettor had no fuel inside it. After a firmly touch the filter was flooded with petrol and the engine started without any problems.

When I arrived home the same thing happened just when I was parking it. I tried to hit firmly the pump to start as I was to do by the RAC people but this time the pump is ticking. The problem is that when the choke is on the car is not stalling but once the choke is off ( warm engine) the fuel supply stops and the engine shuts down. If I drive it with the choke on I do not do any good at the car since the mixture is richer.


I want to identify whether is a fuel pump problem or if any garbage has found itself into the carburettor which causes this effects.

Anybody had any similar problems such as me?

Thanking you for your time

Kind Regards
Nikolas Pisanias

Roll on my 1954 Morris Minor

If there was no fuel in the filter between the pump and the carb then I think the problem is with the pump. However, this doesn't explain why the car stops without choke if the pump is ticking OK. I suggest you change the points in the pump anyway as that's a more common cause of breakdowns than dirt in the fuel line.

Yes you need to check the pump 1st take the fuel line of the carb and put the end in a container and switch the ignition on and see if the fuel is pumping out OK, if its ticking and no fuel is coming out the diaphragm might be playing up or even possibly a partial blockage of the filter in the pump.
If you can only keep running with the choke out that suggests that the carb is running lean but that is a different problem.
As the RAC got it going with a thump to the pump it does sound like the pints are starting to wear out but this does not match the choke issues.

Also see if it makes a difference taking the fuel cap off - if the vent hole is blocked then a vacuum forms in the tank & can stop the pump. However, a pump problem would still be my first call. Once the pump is sorted then check the carb for needle valve, float height, and mixture adjustment. Also check that there are no air leaks between carb & engine. Good luck, it can't be too serious.

Stig28 wrote:However, this doesn't explain why the car stops without choke if the pump is ticking OK.

With choke the engine is using more fuel, so the pump is able to tick over each stroke that bit sooner/ easier?

So when off choke, the pressure holds the pump off for too long for it to fire up again?

Most likely not, but it's a pseudo scientific theory ;)

but it's a pseudo scientific theory

Havent a clue what that means but it sounds good and I must try to remember it as I am sure it would prove useful as an argument stopper

pseudo is a greek work means fake!!
Thank you so much for your comments.
I will let you know how the car is doing over this weekend when i have time to do the bits u told me to do.
Happy days till then

Roll on my 1954 Morris Minor

My 1957 Moggie saloon suddenly stopped a while ago and it turned out that the lining of the petrol tank had sloughed off and was finding its way into the fuel filter and carbuerator. I had to have the tank removed and cleaned out, and then relined, and then put back, and I've had no problems since.

Obviously I have no idea if this might be your issue too but our cars are of similar vintage and just maybe...

How did they manage to line it without blocking the pickup pipe and filter?

I think he told me it was simply a screen that was easily removable. Then put back in after re-lining.

Original tank was never 'lined' - so this must have been an aftermarket extra to try to sort out porous tank.

Yes, exactly right. There was all kinds of crud, rust, etc. flaking off and getting into the fuel lines, fuel filter, carb, etc. so in addition to just flushing it all out, we had it relined with some kind of rubberized liquid stuff. They promised me it would never happen again after that. Check with me in another 50 years...

Hmmm - don't think new tank is all that expensive.

It is if you live in Philadelphia, USA.

Ahhh. You should post up your Location!! Even so - are there no Minor 'agents' in the States?

Yes, there are a few, but none in my state, so I'd have to order one, have it shipped, etc. Just seemed simpler to let the guy clean and line the original.

Well done - good luck with it!