Morris Minor Owners Club

Please help? i have had my split scree 1956 for a year now and my fuel pump packed up. so i decided to fit a new electric pump, and also thought i would replace the dynamo for a alternator, and distributor point system to a electric system hoping i would not get any problems with points closing and battery not charging enough. she started fist time even in cold weather and drove well for a day. after having had all this done.
now for some reason when i take her out she cuts out after 15 min driving, just slows down and stops. there is no indication of the green light coming on to indicate oil pressure. sorry i do not know much about mechanics i really do not know what to do as now i am not confidant in taking her out at all.

And then what happens after it cuts out?? Could be many things - you need to tell us if the fuel pump for example is ticking - or not......

Throw this electronic pump as far away as you can and refit the original one.
cheers from NZ

He doesn't say it is an electronic pump - he says electric - which is standard for a Minor. As ever - no response from the original poster........ We need information if we are to be able to help!

we could do with some generic checklists for theses type questions,just to point people in the right general direction

des1957 wrote:Please help? i have had my split scree 1956 for a year now and my fuel pump packed up. so i decided to fit a new electric pump, and also thought i would replace the dynamo for a alternator, and distributor point system to a electric system hoping i would not get any problems with points closing and battery not charging enough. she started fist time even in cold weather and drove well for a day. after having had all this done.
now for some reason when i take her out she cuts out after 15 min driving, just slows down and stops. there is no indication of the green light coming on to indicate oil pressure. sorry i do not know much about mechanics i really do not know what to do as now i am not confidant in taking her out at all.

Des, my new electro-mechanical pump from S.U. packed up after short runs also.
I sent it back for repair /replacement.
The symptoms were as described by yourself,if I left it cool down for 5 mins or so it would work again temporarily, then fade again.
Send it back.

THE PUMP IS A BRAND NEW ELECTRIC PUMP, WHEN I SWITCH IT ON I CAN HEAR IT TICKING.
WHEN THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND STOPS, AFTER 5 MINITS I CAN START IT AGAIN, BUT THEN GIVES ME ONLY A FEW YARDS AND STOPS AGAIN. HOPE ALL THIS MAKES SENSE.
DES

Des typing in block letters is considered shouting and rude

sorry did not mean to type in capital letters, yes you are right it can be seen as shouting.
i do apologise.

if it's not the pump then I would look at the rotor arm and cap (for tracking)

this morning i started it and let it run for 10 min it was ok, and then it stopped. tried to start it again but could not hear the pump ticking. going to send the pump back and get another one hopefully it is the pump.
thanks for all your suggestions.

Test the pump by making it pump a gallon of petrol up into a can!

for clarification - the pump needs to be tested when the car has just given up running.

Switch off ignition, disconnect the fuel pipe from carb and place into an empty fuel can*. switch ignition back on and see if it pumps fuel like mad (it should). A half decent pump will shift a gallon of fuel in 5 minutes (IIRC) but if it is pumping like crazy and load of fuel coming through you don't need to wait 5 mins ;-)

* make sure the can isn't going to fall over / spill when fuel starts coming through

if the pump does nothing, that's your likely cause.

hi guys thanks for all the advice, i disconnected the pump and tested it like you said, it did the same thing pumped for a few minutes and then stopped.
going to return the pump as faulty.
i have now purchased a reconditioned pump which is identical to the one that came out of my car. fitted it and she is ticking away nicely without cutting out. how ever now i have got another problem, when the engine is idling in traffic it stalls.
mainly when i put the clutch down. the pump is still ticking away, so i now know the reconditioned pump is ok as she starts up instantly.

Des

Just lift the idle speed slightly -and then trim the mixture for 'best' idle. And then twiddle the dizzy back and forth - again to find the 'best' idle. Then road test to make sure it ios not pinking. Also worth checking if the vacuum advance is working as it should......

just switched the engine on and waited till warm. increased the idle speed slightly, and pushed clutch down. great the engine dose not cut out, just slows down a bit. is this normal? i am pleased at lest it dose not cut out.
i also increased the mixture slightly. going to take her out for a long run and see. thanks for advice.
i am not sure what it means by pinking. and how would i know if the vacuum advance is working?
Des

pinking is a noise that sounds like a garden chime that tinkles ?,if the car is running well under all conditions then the advance is working ,you can check if the vacuum is working by sucking at the end of the tube and seeing if the plate moves

Important that the clutch does not go down too far - over pressing the mechanism. Make sure you have a return spring fitted, and ~ 1" free play at the pedal. Note also to NEVER sit with foot on clutch - always clutch down -out of / in to gear - clutch up immediately. And of course don't rest your foot on the pedal when driving...