Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi all, Im the proud owner of a 1971 traveller which sees very regular use and hasnt had any major probs over the last 15,000 miles (2 years) or so.
Back in may I was travelling to wales from manchester on a very hot day. I experienced no less than 5 breakdowns with the fuel pump stopping. It started up straight away again after a telling of with a hammer, but I left the car in wales at my mums house and have had the misery of having nothing but the XJ to drive over the summer.
I brought the car back to Manchester yesterday hoping that the problem might have cured itself, and this was partially successfull. Whilst i didnt have an actual failure I did have about 2 dozen or so occasions where the engine spluttered as though it was about to run short of petrol before normal service was resumed.
I have ordered new points etc to service the fuel pump, and a new in line fuel filter (the one on is almost solid black!) but was wondering if there was anything else that may cause a similar problem that i could check whilst i have the spanners out and permission to use the kithchen table for oily things?
Thanks for any help


Edit: bad spelling!

Sounds like the points are dirty, or you had the fuel vapourizing in the line making it difficult for the pump. The fact that hitting the pump sorted the problem suggests only the points were to blame. Good idea replacing the fuel filter if it looked worn. If you regularly use the car, then conversion to electronic points might be worth considering, a kit is about £40 online. The old system is still reliable if the points are regularly cleaned though. Cant hurt to take the carb off and clean the dashpot and inside the float bowl, remember to fit new gaskets. As to preventing fuel vapourizing, the copper pipe from the tank can get very close to the exhaust, so shielding it from heat may help. a length of fuel hose split, and pushed over the part of the copper pipe that is in the engine bay may help. On a hot day its going to be very hot under the bonnet!

throw the filter away theres one in the pump and extra in line ones always cause trouble.

As above - THROW THE FILTER AWAY - the SU carb copes well with debris, and a filter only makes life more difficult for the poor pump. There is already a little filter in the base of the pump - by all means clean it. I advise strongly AGAINST the lectronic versions of these pumps -the original points usually last a good 40 years, surely enough for you ??

Thanks guys. New points etc for the pump should be arriving tommorow and ill get to work on it on friday.
Ill replace the in-line filter, mainly because there will be a gap in the fuel line otherwise. I agree with the comments above and I cant really see the point in them myself either, esp as it is after the fuel pump. Ive never had one on previos cars and this one is only there as it was in when I got the car!
I wont do anything with the carb at the mo, mainly because I seem to have accidently hit a sweet spot with the set-up that produces (relativly) big amounts of power and good mpg. I think if I touch it Ill bugger it up!

If the inline filter was dirty, might be worth checking the one inside the pump aswell, its usually a plastic sieve type thing and easily cleaned. There is a big nut on the bottom of the fuel pump that unscrews. Have a rag ready to absorb petrol that may spill as you loosen it.

I had a similar problem at easter, replaced the fuel pump, a friend fixed the old one for a spare , said it had tar like deposits clogging it , I am told these can come from bad petrol

New points and bits arrived today. Had nothing urgent at work so came home early stripped, rebuilt and refitted the pump. Now works perfectly, with fuel now visible in the also new in-line filter.

Started the car which burst into life, ran for a minute then promptly died. Wouldnt then run for more than a few seconds before dieing again. So I have another problem somewhere which Im currently clueless on.

I serviced her around May time with new plugs, new leads, rotor, dizzy cap, air filter and of course points and condenser.

I have breifly checked plugs and points. Points look ok but plugs are a bit black and wet. Im presuming this would be from petrol from attempted restarts.

Not quite sure what do do now or where to start looking. Any ideas?

Is the fuel pump ticking? If you press the tickler on top of the float chamber lid it should tick some more.
Lift the carb. piston and check that it is dropping with an audible clunk.

Throw away the filter........ It is a complete waste of space - did you clean the little filter in the base of the pump? Was it dirty? However - the wet plugs suggests spark failure - so check points gap and all connections. Of course - maybe it's the coil.......

bmcecosse wrote: Of course - maybe it's the coil.......

You may be onto something there...................

mike.perry wrote:Is the fuel pump ticking? If you press the tickler on top of the float chamber lid it should tick some more.
Lift the carb. piston and check that it is dropping with an audible clunk.

Im happy the pump problem is sorted. I think I have 2 problems giving trouble, and I think BMCecosse has hit it on the head with the coil.

Lets hope they dont come in threes

Errr - I was being sarcastic. By all means check the coil connections, and if you have a spare, swop them over just to check it's NOT the coil !

bmcecosse wrote:Errr - I was being sarcastic.

But right..well, kind of.

After much head scratching, tea drinking and swearing and having checked and re-checked pump points, dizzy points, ignition coil and all connections and finding nothing more than a slighty loose connection, I came to the conclusion that it must be the coil in the pump playing up, and a new one was needed. This was helped by noticing that the pump body was getting very hot.

Remembering that the AA in there infinite wisdom have seen fit to cover her with a breakdown warranty, I called them out and the guy, after doing the same as what I did, came to the same conclusion. I can now get a new one fitted and send the bill to the AA.

I was thinking about dropping the aa cover, but I wont now!