Fuel Problems

[Phil R]

So after finally getting the pertronix fitted and thinking all my problems solved, I had the misfortune of a tow home today after the old girl died a mile from home. She has been stopping intermittently for while but this time she refused to start again.

The fuel filter was empty so pulled the hose off the filter inlet to check if pump sending fuel and there was a loud hiss from escaping air.

Checked the pump and fuel lines from the tank and all OK and good fuel getting to the inlet of the filter.

Could it be as simple as the filter blocked? The carbs were off and overhauled by me only 2.5k ago so doubt its crud in the carbs.

Any ideas?

Cheers
Phil

[V Mad]

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If you had pulled off the hose from filter to carbs then you would be able to tell if the fuel was getting through.

[Phil R]

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Doh - Got so narked off with her this morning as I was stuck on the side of the road and didn't think of the obvious!

Out of interest would she run on one carb if the others sickly?

[pcoleman]

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yes they will run on one good carb plus a clonker as 1 carb feeds cylinders on both sides of the engine so you will run but obviously not well,i had this myself some years ago where the needle valve jammed and over fueled one carb it got me home but on full choke and high revs to stop it cutting out.sounds as if you might have an airlock on yours somewhere,cant remember exactly but is there a breather vent on top of the tank to prevent a vacuum forming ?

pete.c

[Phil R]

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Cheers Pete,

I thought it should be OK (ish) on one.

So heres the problem went to check fuel getting through the filter just now and shes fired up again no problems.

The fuel pump did however run very rapidly as soon as the ignition went on suggesting the carbs were dry (no surprise given the refusal to fire yesterday). So my question has changed a bit - fuel getting pumped from back to front OK but for some reason appears not to getting to the carbs from the filter outlet.

I had the carbs off and stripped them down only 2 years ago and replaced needled valves etc.

Any ideas as struggling on this one now. Could it be an air lock somewhere, if so how could that happen/how can i be prevented?

Phil

[stustag]

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Hi

Is the fuel pump ticking when the ignition is turned on?

If not tap it with a spanner or small hammer and it will start again, most likely the points inside are burnt on the face which you can clean with a emery board (nail file)

Stuart

[Phil R]

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Thanks Stuart but Fuel pump seems OK - its only 2 years old and was pumping plenty of fuel through yesterday.

I thought it could be vapour lock which i have seen covered quite a bit on here but yesterday she was on the side of the road for an hour with the bonnet up so surely should have cooled down enough - hardly a baking hot morning either.