Robin Hood 2B Fuel Pump Question

[Jonty Wild]

Haven't got mine started yet. Thought it was battery problem as it is a bit sluggish turn over - might still be part of the problem! I replace the (main) earth lead and cleaned up the seating areas last year. However, there is no fuel coming through. I haven't had much time to look at it yet, but seeking advice.

 

I have mechanical pump. I sure that there is fuel in the tank (stainless steel), but I will put some more in to be sure, and I will blow back through the pipe to make sure it is not blocked. I have never had a problem with a mechanical pump before - is that a thing? Should I just buy a new pump?

[IanS]

Main problem with mechanical pumps is leaks in the fuel lines / connections. Though I have had hardened valves in the pump causing failure once.

After a longish time the petrol in the carb can evaporate  causing long cranking times. Try priming the carb by using an old washing up liquid bottle with some petrol in it and connect it to the carb inlet with a short hose and squeezing some  petrol direct into the carb, its a long time since I last did this but it does show if petrol starvation is the problem.

[Jonty Wild]

Update. This is what I found in the fuel filter - do other people find this an issue? The car was used last year no problem, the fuel was last year's, and it has a stainless steel tank. I have yet to prove that this is the problem causing no fuel to be drawn through, I suppose it must be, but I could blow through the filter and back in to the tank. I'll test it after the replacement filter and non-return valve have arrived, which should have been today.

Still a productive day in the sun, with one set of seat runners installed - would have been two if the previous owner had used a jig to drill the holes rather than semi randomly drilling holes in the floor! Also fixed a fault with the windscreen washer spray that I didn't know I had, until I spotted the lose earth wire! 

[phaeton]

That needs replacing whether it's the source of your issue or not

[Jonty Wild]

True!!!

[Jonty Wild]

Just to finish this off. My car is started and running well. Although the gunge in the fuel filter would not have helped, the main problem turned out to be the battery - which I had some doubts about! - it no longer had enough oomph to turn the engine enough, to get the mechanical pump to drag the fuel through. I have also fitted a none return valve, but too soon to tell if this made any difference yet.

There were other useful benefits of this investigation and fitting seat runners:

1. It made me spot the broken earth from the windscreen washer pump (MOT failure)
2. It made me spot how bad a length rubber fuel pipe was - looked fine but was crumbling away - must check any hidden under the car now.
3. Found a really easy to access and available, ignition controlled live, to power an auxiliary socket - yippee, I thought this would be a nightmare.

[phaeton]

Thank you, I wish everybody would come back & give an outcome, either positive or negative, it's nice to know.

[Jonty Wild]

I agree, always nice to know and it provides other readers with the information they need on what was successful. Must post some other stuff now!