Blocked fuel line

[cleverusername]

I managed to get the Sprint engine to fire, after pouring fuel into the dashpoints and attaching some jump leads to another car. The dizzy was incorrectly position, if anyone is interested, repositioning the shaft with the rotor arm anti-clockwise advances the ignition, clockwise retards it. I found the start position of point the rotor at number one lead left the rotor one position too far clockwise. However I am using a britpart kit and I may have got the jackshaft pulley in the wrong position, when I did the chain.

Alas there is still very little fuel making it to the fuel filter before the pump, even with the engine running. Which means duff pump, holed fuel line or blockage.

The pump could be made of cheese, it is newish, so no doubt badly made. in its defence, it worked before I rebuilt the timing chain. The fuel lines under the car are old, so could do with replacing or it could be crud from the tank, from letting the fuel get too low.

Now I have heard I can use a compressor to blow out the lines? How do you do this safely? Detach from tank and engine end and shove the air tool in the pipe or is this asking for trouble?

[dollyman]

That is the correct way to do it without getting covered in fuel It's also a myth about letting the fuel get low, as the pickup pipe draws fuel from the bottom of the tank anyway even if it full or only has a pint in it. So don't worry if fuel run's low, at the worse you will have to walk home

Tony.

[Carledo]

Simply BECAUSE the tank feeds from the very bottom, i've found that that pipe that sits in the bottom of the tank can get VERY silted up with crud. Even to the point where the pump is unable to suck sufficient fuel through to allow the engine to start. This is particularly prevalent on cars that have been standing idle for long periods or soon after being woken from a long rest. Understandably, a lot of folk blame modern aftermarket fuel pumps for this! Whilst it's true that some people have had problems with these pumps, others have fitted them without problems (but you don't hear about those!) It's my thought that there may be an underlying cause of the early failures recorded that has so far escaped attention and this problem may be part of it!

The very worst examples I have seen, have had fuel in the tank, but none came out when the flexible pipe was removed from the tank outlet!

My normal solution is to drain the tank and "Dyno Rod" the pipe with an opened out wire coat hanger. Then flush the tank out with fresh petrol.

Steve

[cleverusername]

Simply BECAUSE the tank feeds from the very bottom, i've found that that pipe that sits in the bottom of the tank can get VERY silted up with crud. Even to the point where the pump is unable to suck sufficient fuel through to allow the engine to start. This is particularly prevalent on cars that have been standing idle for long periods or soon after being woken from a long rest. Understandably, a lot of folk blame modern aftermarket fuel pumps for this! Whilst it's true that some people have had problems with these pumps, others have fitted them without problems (but you don't hear about those!) It's my thought that there may be an underlying cause of the early failures recorded that has so far escaped attention and this problem may be part of it!

The very worst examples I have seen, have had fuel in the tank, but none came out when the flexible pipe was removed from the tank outlet!

My normal solution is to drain the tank and "Dyno Rod" the pipe with an opened out wire coat hanger. Then flush the tank out with fresh petrol.

Steve

In my case it isn't a blocked tank, I pulled out the flexi pipe and was promptly covered in fuel.

[dollyman]

I have to say i have put a primer on my Dolly as i dont use it as my daily and it was a pig to start even with a new pump.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fuel-Pump-Li ... SwlqJdeLVX
Since using this it starts fine every time even if left for a month

Tony

[cleverusername]

OK I have been an idiot. I just primed it with a bulb from an old Xantia and fuel came out instantly. What fooled me is the fuel filter looks half full but isn't.

Current issues are, the coolant fan has failed, cheap ebay rubbish (my fault, I do love a bargain) and coolant poured out of the expansion bottle. This could be serious or due to all extra coolant I poured in her before I fired her up. Nice gurgling noise and it started to be sucked back into the engine when I switch it off.

Head gasket, who knows? Have to look for bubbles next time I fire it up. Would be annoying, as the engine runs fine, revs all the way to 6000. The only issue is a misfire on plug one I found with the timing gun. It went away but I think I need to change that lead.

Anyway thanks for your help.