Fuel issue

[jasondixon02]

Hi,

And so my 1987 Pilgrim Hawthorn kit car which is powered by a 1973 Dolomoite 1854cc non sprint engine would not start yesterday.
No fuel, no spark, or spark at the wrong time are the 3 normal culprits.
And so, the fun started....
Noticed a kink in the flexi pipe from the fuel pump to the carbs, ah ha i thought, an easy fix. Sorted kink, still wouldn't start. Doh
Pulled the outlet pipe from the pump, turned the engine over, no fuel coming out, must be the culprit.

As access to the fuel pump is a an utter delight, involving removing the air filter (not a big job, but still I like to avoid doing if can be), can anyone give me advice on how to check that the fuel pump is working without having to remove it from the engine ?

Any other advice regarding this issue, would also be really useful.

Thanks, Jason

[cliftyhanger]

If you have a can (even a baked bean can) of petrol, you can disconnect the inlet side of the pump and dip the hose in the can. Turn the engine over, does that work. An assistant, ideally of the glamorous nature, is handy.

There seems to be a recent glut of fuel line blockages. Remove the filler cap, and a footpump or whatever the hose removed as above should tell you if that is clear. Or even if the fuel comes out under gravity at the pump connection (depends on fuel tank height)

Hope that helps?

[jasondixon02]

thanks, will do the 1st suggestion.
regarding the foot pump, where do I connect this to ?

[tinweevil]

It's probably just dry, keep trying. Tank height is important as clifty says.

In November I couldn't get our TC started (fuel light on) so added 10L to the tank and tried again, no luck. In January still no joy getting the bugger to prime even filling the dashpots and running it. When the price of fuel crashed I just filled the tank via cans and it started straight up.

[jasondixon02]

admittedly there isn't much fuel in the tank, it started OK 2 weeks ago, and last night I put 2 litres (what I had leftover in the jerry can) into the tank.
Will put another 5 litres in tonight, but never had any fuel issues before.

[cleverusername]

Couldn't you just fill up the float bowls to get it started? A running engine would soon suck the fuel through.

On mine when it ran dry, I just connected the fuel line up to squeezy bulb primers you use to see on old diesels. That was more than enough to draw fuel from the tank.

[Jod Clark]

This....

On mine when it ran dry, I just connected the fuel line up to squeezy bulb primers you use to see on old diesels. That was more than enough to draw fuel from the tank.

[dollyman]

Hi Jason, fit one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8mm-Car-Fuel ... Sw~jNZYR2o
I fitted one to my 1850 as it doesn't get used much. It used to be a bstd to start after being laid up, now it starts first time every time. should have fitted it years ago. I fitted mine between pump and carbs

Tony.

[jasondixon02]

Hi Tony,

Is the idea that within the rubber primer part some fuel is stored, then before you start the engine, you squeeze this a few times to get fuel into the carbs, so it's starts quicker, rather than waiting for the pump to draw the petrol all the way from the tank ?

Thanks, how are these different to just a standard non return valve in the pipe between pump and carbs. Is it that if you just have a non return valve, not enough fuel is stored in it to keep the engine running until it gets more fuel, whereas with the primer, enough fuel is available to keep the engine running until the fuel arrives from the tank ?

Are am I just being a bit thick ?

Jase

[dollyman]

Hi Jase, personally i think fuel evaporates from the carbs, and fuel drains back to the tank from the lines so double problem. If used every day this does not happen. If you fit one of those bulbs and listen, you can hear the carbs filling up and the fuel coming though the pump I also have the same problem on my 2500S but that has a primer fitted to the pump so i just pump that. I also have a Stag and if i dont use that every day the electric pump goes on for ages before it stops and is ready to start. Pumps are supposed to have a drain valve built in.... but they don't work over time. You could fit a stop tap? But fuel will still evaporate from the carbs. So for under a fiver and 10 minutes you can cure the problem and is easily reversed should you need to.

Tony.

[jasondixon02]

Hi Tony,

Thanks, but if I may ask, what is the benefit of using a primer compared to just using a non return valve ?

Regards, Jason

[dollyman]

They don't work for one Jason as petrol is a spirit so you would a fuel tap like a motor bike or lawn mower. Plus it wouldn't stop fuel evaporating would it? That primer is supposed to have a non return valve in it.... but as i said they don't work. It's no real hardship pumping the bulb if left for a while, you don't need to do it every day. You can fit a non return valve if you wish? But order the bulb at the same time as you will need it anyway.

Tony.

[jasondixon02]

Hi Tony,

Thanks, have ordered the primer as you have suggested.
In the meantime hope to get it started tonight

Jason

[jasondixon02]

Hi,

I have ordered one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8mm-Car-Fuel ... 2749.l2649 which is due to arrive this week.

In the meantime I stripped the fuel pump down, no obvious issues with that.
I also put a length of tube from the inlet pipe to a jerry can, no change, but could not feel any suction when putting my finger on end of pipe.
I also checked that I was getting sparks at the plugs, all OK.
Scratching my head, and rather than wait for my primer to arrive, I phoned the RAC as I have home start. He stuck his primer between the fuel pump and carbs, gave a few squeezes, and hey presto she fired up no problem.

According to the RAC man, especially as I had the car up on front ramps (refreshing the front underside), the fuel would have drained back and the pump needed a bit of help to get going, that is all.

So, as soon as mine arrives, I will fit it perm between pump and carbs, and happy days.

Thanks to everyone who gave me their advice.

Regards, Jason

[dollyman]

Good news that Jason. I can honestly say it's best thing i have ever fitted to my Dolly, it really saves strain on the starter as mine is not a daily driver

tony.