Petrol pump woes

[Tim WalkerParticipant]

I have three different petrol pumps. One original, two Club aftermarket. They all work well off the car. On it, they half work, or not at all. If they work, petrol doesn’t really come out of the outlet tube, and certainly not up to the carb. I’ve had four Tractions, over 30 years, and I’m stumped!

[AlistairParticipant]

Do you have a deteriorated hose between the tank and the pump allowing air ingress and no fuel??(Assuming you have “rubber” hose to the pump) Maybe check with a small petrol can of fuel and a hose directly into the pump inlet?? Taking all precautions with fuel!!

[Tim WalkerParticipant]

No, Alistair, I replaced the hose with new, and then with copper which I had spare after re running the front/ rear line.

[Larry LewisParticipant]

Have you checked the fuel pick-up in the petrol tank?

[Tim WalkerParticipant]

Yes, Larry, I have. I’ve taken the sender out, dismantled it, removed 70 years’ worth of crud, replaced it and rerun the pipe to the engine with new copper. And, it works; what doesn’t is when the pump is on the engine, the pump doesn’t work. When it’s off, it works. I think that it’s the camshaft, but I can’t see how!

[BernieParticipant]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Tim,</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Do you have a pump with a manual priming lever?  If so and, and if it works manually when fitted in situ but does not pump when the engine runs, it would definitely suggest the cam is not lifting the mechanical lever sufficiently.</p>
B….
<p style=”text-align: left;”></p>
 

[BernieParticipant]

Sorry about the gibberish!  But the message is still there.

B….

 

[Larry LewisParticipant]

Maybe the lever that rides on the cam shaft is worn out to where it works by hand but is not making a full stroke while on the engine.

[BernieParticipant]

Tim, as Larry suggests, it could be a worn lever …. but you say you have tried several different pumps so I find it hard to think they could all be equally worn.

B…

[Philippe AllisonParticipant]

I have fitted half a dozen of these to various cars over the last couple of years. Both my cars have them. Great quality and work well.

Search ebay  for;  Citroen Traction Avant 7 9 11 CV ID, DS (Serie I) Car Fuel Pump with Glass Bowl

Company is Agri Parts.

Good luck Philippe

 

[Larry LewisParticipant]

Phillipe- Doesn’t that kind of pump interfere with the shift rods? Jose Franssen sells a low-profile pump that will not interfere. I think the glass bowl type is more suited for a 15/6, but if it works on an 11, that’s good.  At Arras in 2009, I bought a glass bowl type for a friend with an 11B and the rods rubbed against the pump. I have this one on my 49 BL and it’s given me no problems and it’s a lot cheaper than the glass bowl type:

https://www.citroen-traction-avant.com/en/shop/article/595=!822-V/Fuel_pump_right-angle_new

[Richard LarterParticipant]

I use a pump made by SU and powered by electricity which gives a reassuring ticking noise when I turn the ignition on so I know the float chambers are full and I am ready to go. Not a fan of churning the engine over to fill the float chambers especially if the battery is feeling tired.

Cheers

Richard

[Philippe AllisonParticipant]

Clearance with the shift rods seems to be fine on all the 4 cylinder  cars I have fitted them to. I like the glass bowl type as you can see immediately if there is a problem and the filter is easy to clean. It is of course personal preference, fit what works for you.

[Tim WalkerParticipant]

I have checked the lever on the pump shaft, and it’s the same as the original. And I don’t think it’s the camshaft…..I don’t understand, but many thanks to all. I’ve bought a new 6v electric pump (£20), and that, with a blanking plate over the old manual pump hole, should suffice. Not only that, but it should fire on demand, rather than churning.

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