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Fuel issues

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 7:08 pm
by vibrodolly
Hello,

I have a 1958 saloon.
It has a Hardi Fuel pump fitted - clicks much like the SU.
I have had recent fuel starvation problems.

For many years I have been getting a pink gloopy residue in the float chamber. Every so often I would clean this out.
Recently, the engine will just die, e it on the motorway or local journeys.
I can "prime" the pump by turning on and off the ignition a few times. This would put a little more fuel in the floats chamber, sometimes cure the problem. Sometimes it would happen the next day sometimes not.

Getting fed up, I changed the pump for another Hardi pump. - I had about 4 SU pumps in 10m years and had got fed up with them. Same problem.

Thinks.... Is there a blockage somewhere? Is thee tank full of sludge? Drained it and cleaned it. In the process I found the large pink hose by the fuller pipe was perished in the inside.
Flushed tank, replaced hose, put new fuel pipe from tank to pump on.

Now the fuel pump, both old and new is furiously pumping and will not stop. The is whether engine running of just ignition on.

There appears to be air bubbles, so I have bled them out. Same issues.

Car runs but starved of fuel at a constant 50mph.

Just can't work this one out.

Any suggestions please?

Thanks
Nick

Re: Fuel issues

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 8:10 pm
by moggalot
Sounds to me like you have cured one problem and found another. The perished fuel pipe is not uncommon, having beset my son's pick up recently. He got through about 2 or three reconditioned pumps before discovering the perished filler pipe was depositing rubber particles in the system. The current problem of constant pump operation is probably an air leak on the inlet union of the pump. If not that then it might be contamination of the valve in the Hardi. However, the constant bubbles is almost certainly indicative of air being drawn in. Make sure the connection is tight or perhaps use a bit of PTFE tape around the joint. (PS fuel system is self bleeding so doesn't need bleeding)

Re: Fuel issues

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 8:44 pm
by bmcecosse
Sure there is enough fuel in the tank ?? It IS pumping air...

Re: Fuel issues

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 9:15 pm
by vibrodolly
Tank is full. No petrol leak (well I can't smell petrol)

Will try to check for air leaks

Nick

Re: Fuel issues

Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 7:38 pm
by vibrodolly
I've gone back to an SU pump and all seems ok....

Re: Fuel issues

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2015 11:24 am
by bmcecosse
Well done -I dunno why anyone would fit non-standard equipment.

Re: Fuel issues

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:50 pm
by moggalot
Usually cheaper

Re: Fuel issues

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:41 pm
by mike.perry
Cheaper for a reason, you get what you pay for

Re: Fuel issues

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 8:29 pm
by moggalot
Doesn't seem to stop people complaining tho...!