Fuel pump not working

[Non MemberParticipant]

Hi All,

i have a 1953 11B which has been stood up for two months whilst I dealt with my home being flooded from a water burst

My knowledge is very limited and I was trying to start the car to take to a garage for some on going maintenance, but the car would not start, I checked that I had a good spark which is fine when checking the fuel pump I found that it is not delivering fuel to the carb by disconnecting the fuel outlet pipe.

I have dipped the tank and confirm that there is plenty of fuel in the car and was running well when I last used it

The fuel pump has a priming lever below which I have pumped over forty times as well as turning the car over on the starter motor all to no avail, any ideas about a fix for this problem or direction for obtaining a new pump / type ?

Best regards, Bill

[David SelfridgeParticipant]

Hi William

If you take off the pipe leading into the pump and fit a small piece of rubber fuel hose insert into a gallon can of petrol, make sure you fit a jubilee clip. This will test if  your fuel pump is faulty, if the fuel pump is working, then you could have a blockage or a small hole in one of your flexible hoses or the filter could be clogged (very likely) The filter will be at the top of the fuel tank (in boot) with a rubber right angle hose fitted, remove screws and withdraw from tank rinse with clean petrol and blow through with an air hose. If it’s completely clogged & heavy rust you may have to get tank fully cleaned (I tryed this once and holed the tank, requiring new tank) best to contact John Gillard or Chris at TOC Spares, for a reconditioned tank. If it’s the pump both these men will be able to sort you quickly.

Post again if you don’t have any joy

Davy

 

 

[Non MemberParticipant]

Thanks Davey I shall try your recommendation at the earliest opportunity

Best regards, Bill

[AlistairParticipant]

Like others, I have a two plastic, in-line, fuel filters, one before the carb. Not only can you see crud, you can see if fuel is arriving at the carb when priming with the fuel pump lever.

The carb inlet valve may have stuck closed. Although it is usually the simple things that cause the problems rather than opening/replacing everything only to find a blocked hose or leak!

 

Alistair

[Non MemberParticipant]

Thanks Alistair

i am sure the problem is before the pump as no fuel from the outlet of it, just stuck for time to investigate at the moment

[BernieParticipant]

Davey mentions the rubber “right-angled hose” on top of the tank – I am painfully aware of this pipe perishing and allowing air to be drawn and preventing the fuel from being lifted.  Check it before you go to the trouble of removing the filter from the tank, any splits will almost certainly be obvious as soon as you flex it.

Many moons ago, my Normale ground to a halt for that very reason  …. whilst chauffeuring some very dear friends to a garden party at Buckingham Palace – very embarrassing!    I have heard of several other similar failures since.

Replacement is the obvious solution but a possible temporary roadside fix is to wrap it tightly, several times, with plastic insulating tape.

B………………

 

 

[David SelfridgeParticipant]

Bernie

You must have friends in high places, maybe you could do me a favour, the next time your talking to the Duchess of Cornwall,  ask her did her Father once own my Light 12 ?   John Gillard told me, he was almost certain that Camilla once owned my Traction a long time ago. John was a very close friend of the last owner, so I decided to write a letter including a Photo of the car (A4 size) to Camilla and received a lovely reply from your Highness stated that, if she every owned such a beautiful car, she would not have forgotten (photograph not returned)   Since then I have been informed that it was actually her Father who was a Captain in the Royal Air Force that owned the Traction. I didn’t have the nerve to correspond further, so Bernie the next time your sharing a glass of champagne with Camilla could you drop the questions, you might even see the Light 12 framed and fixed to the wall in her quarters.

Davy

 

 

 

[Non MemberParticipant]

Thanks Bernie

Great banter guys took the sting right out of the tail of my problem, could I use any spare champagne corks as a makeshift filter??

[JonathanParticipant]

William, the best use for old champagne corks is under the back of the bonnet leaves to leave a nice little gap for air to escape on those really hot days!

J

[David SelfridgeParticipant]

William, Sorry we’re getting away from your problems, but make sure you post after completing your checklist, if the remedial works which Bernie and I have suggested fails, “THERE’S PLENTY MORE” Bernie’s idea may well be your problem as this little hose can get  fairly scuffed  where it’s located.

I recently did a wedding and when return from photo shoot the Bride said to me, their Family dog will be glad when this day is over, I said is that because the dog was not getting full attention with all the wedding arrangements, the Bride answered No, her Father had been practicing his speech on the dog for the past 6 weeks, She was serious.

 

Davy

• This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by David Selfridge.

[Non MemberParticipant]

Davy / Bernie

I have had a bit of time today to try your recommendations

I placed a clear plastic tube into a can of petrol and turned over the engine which lifted the petrol out of the can, so pump eliminated thank you?

I then unscrewed the protection plate in the boot to reveal the 90 degree bend in perfect condition and looks to have been renewed with new clips and no obvious splits, the screws that secure the tube into the tank are very corroded and don’t look to have ever been ever undone so I run out of time and thought it best not to cause any more trouble at this time as I have a full time job

My friend who is retired and mechanically minded is in Portugal on an off roading trip, he has proper tools and an air line which I can use to blow through from the boot to the pump to check for any blockage or splits and I think it is prudent to await his return next week before stumbling any further into dissconnecting anything into the petrol tank to investigate a blocked filter

In the meantime I have ordered some inline filters to fit as you suggested, any further suggestions would be gratefully appreciated

Best regards, Bill

[AlistairParticipant]

I assume you attached the hose to the fuel tank side of the pump. As you said it sucked up fuel. If that was the case you should have been able to start the car with fuel being pumped up from the can unless the fuel line from the pump to the carb is blocked.
This will tell you which part of the line is blocked.
You could also connect the can directly to the carb inlet and see if the car starts-gravity fed.
Worth opening the fuel tank and checking the “filter” on the fuel pipe.
Process of elimination…..good luck.
Alistair

[Non MemberParticipant]

Thanks Alistair yes I connected directly to the inlet of the fuel pump

[BernieParticipant]

William,

Now the pump had been primed (by connecting directly to a can of fuel) the diaphragm and valves appear to be working normally so it might be worth re-connecting the fuel line to see if the pump will now draw fuel from the tank – just in case it had been a sticking non-return valve in the pump).

When you try it, disconnect the outlet from the pump to allow the pumped fuel to discharge into a container and pump it at least a couple of dozen times.  If the pump does not deliver a regular, steady stream of fuel,  insert your auxiliary fuel can at the rubber elbow and repeat the pumping.

If that does not work it would suggest there is a fault in the pipework between the boot and the pump.  However, if the pump will lift fuel from that point the filter is most likely to be the problem.

Before you do remove the filter I strongly suggest you disconnect the battery to minimise the chance of any sparks in that area while the gauge connections are exposed and the top of the tank is open to atmosphere.

Bonne chance!

B…………..

 

 

[Non MemberParticipant]

Bernie

Thanks for your ongoing support I shall certainly follow your advice on my next attempt, unfortunately it’s going to be into the next weekend before I get any time

Best regards, Bill

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