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Fuel pump

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 6:28 pm
by New Bloke
On the kids project (Gary) the fuel pump doesn't "tick" as you would expect it to. My trusty multi meter tells me the white and earth cable have 12.8 volts there when I turn the key to the first position. My experience tells me the fuel pump has had it, but at 80 quid a shot for a new one, I wonder are there any other tests I should be doing?

Cheers

Tim

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 7:24 pm
by Budgie
Try giving the pump body a firm tap with a spanner or such like near the end as the points can sometimes stick preventing the pump from working, a sharp , firm tap will unstick the points and she will tick merrily.

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 8:22 pm
by greendefender123
Has the car been standing long? I had to use a lump hammer on mine after a year of not using the pump.

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:12 pm
by oliver90owner
There should be 12V, but it will not draw current unless the contacts are closed and clean/not corroded. In normal operation pressure in the pump will keep the contacts open. Unused they can stop working for a variety of reasons, but mostly easily fixed with some attention in that area, for cleaning etc.

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:44 pm
by panky
I got a pump in a box of bit's I bought, wouldn't run. A quick clean up of the points with a bit of emery soon had it clicking away furiously :)

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 10:13 pm
by GBond
As said before, try cleaning the points first, if that doesn't work a new set of points or even a complete rebuild kit can be bought for far less money and will get it working as good as new.

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 8:09 am
by New Bloke
I stripped it out and we held it next to the battery and connected 12 volts straight to it, nothing. Then as an afterthought I reversed the polarity and hey presto, of she went. Seems like at some stage someone had unconnected it then put the wires back on the wrong way.

Thanks for all of your help, I wish something like this had been available when I was rebuilding my TR4A in the 90s....

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 9:53 am
by greendefender123
Glad your sorted! I was just told to hit mine so I did :o The Internet is great isn't it. Anything you need to know to can find out.

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 12:49 pm
by New Bloke
I do think I need to prime the pump again as it's running but not squirting fuel out. I googled it and saw a suggestion to pressurise the fuel tank and run it again, certainly beats disconnecting the carb and sucking yuk.

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 1:19 pm
by greendefender123
It should suck it through. You've probably got a leak in the pipe. Or the pumps knackered. Did you clean the filter?

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 1:38 pm
by New Bloke
I think the fuel line between the tank and the pump is blocked. I pressurised the tank (rag wrapped around the tank inlet with compressor line inside it and blew, but nothing came out the solid pipe between the tank and pump. I was expecting a draft at least.

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 1:39 pm
by New Bloke
I don't have a filter, just a metal pipe inlet and a flexible outlet to the carb.

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:54 pm
by greendefender123
The pump should have a built in filter. Looks like a bolt head. If you think the pipe is blocked try and blow air the other way. How much fuel is in it? Your pick up pipe might be rusty and not reaching the fuel.

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 4:07 pm
by New Bloke
I popped a gallon (one of those plastic fuel containers) into it last night, tried blowing the wrong way but didn't clear anything, I think the pipe might be knackered, I need to get under it once the weather has cooled off later tonight and have a look. Might need a new pipe :-(

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 4:18 pm
by panky
There's a little strainer inside the tank that sometimes gets blocked with crud if the tank is left for a long period. Try dis-connecting the fuel line at the tank and see if any fuel dribbles out - but make sure you have a container handy to catch at least a gallon :wink:

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 8:19 pm
by New Bloke
I disconnected the pipe at the tank end and got Angus to blow the airline from the engine end and sure enough I got covered in fuel. Great start. I was surprised at how high up the tank the fuel outlet is and as the pipe just butts into the tank I reckon there is about 6 or 7 gallons of unusable fuel in the tank. So I'm probably missing a rubber (plastic?) hose that sits on the end of this pipe and allows fuel pickup from nearer the bottom of the tank. (Either this, or Morris were bribed by Esso to make so much fuel unusable. As mine seems to be missing, do I just get 3" of rubber pipe and bung it on the end of the metal pipe? Or is there a special attachment that I'm missing?

Cheers

Tim

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 8:36 pm
by panky
There should be a dip pipe curving down to the bottom of the tank with a strainer on it. pretty sure it's an extension of the outlet pipe so it must have broken off - or been broken off because of a blocked strainer :cry:

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 9:23 pm
by bmcecosse
If the pump only works on specific polarity -it must be an electronic pump (which some report as troublesome) - so you may need to change the polarity of the car to be able to use it. And as above - looks like there may be a problem inside the tank with the pick-up pipe.

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 10:46 am
by New Bloke
Thanks for the advice chaps, I simply changed the polarity of the pump and it work as soon as the key is turned. I can't see any extension to the pipe that goes from the tank to the pump,
http://www.morrisminorspareparts.co.uk/ ... mitstart=0
this seems to show just a normal pipe, do I need to remove the tank to get the filter/extension out and reconnected?

Re: Fuel pump

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 1:57 pm
by panky
If you scroll down to the bottom of the page in this link you can see the internal set up of the outlet. Unfortunately I don't think you will be able to fit a new dip pipe without cutting the tank open :(

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... er#p572299