I am having problems with a 51's fuel pump. The pump is about 4 months old. It quits pumping. I can blow through it by remove the tube from the filter to get it pumping. When that does not work I remove the pump manually work the pump, reinstall it and works. What's the deal?

Buddy

 

I don't have any specific advice without knowing what you've already done.....do you have a clear plastic filter before the pump? That will let you know if you actually have gas going into it. Don't go by fuel in the glass bowl 'cause it needs more coming in to push it through the pump. I've had several frustrating episodes with my '48 where I suspected the pump but it turned out to be debris in the tank plugging the fuel outlet.

Usually its crud in the tank, sometimes in the gas line.

If you know positively that your tank and fuel line are CLEAN and that you have fuel in the filter and pump, then I'd suggest that your fuel pump pushrod and/or cam lobe may be worn enough to make pump action sporadic. Quick fix sometimes for that is to place a washer on top of the pushrod with a dab of heavy grease to keep it in place and then bolt your pump stand back down - effectively lengthens the rod.

Rare, but possible would be a ruptured diaphram in the pump, but you should be dumping gas in your crankcase if I'm thinking correctly.
Good luck!

 

Tim,
Thanks for the reply; I try to go though your question. The
filter is the standard canister. I have used a hand operated
pump and can pull gas out of the tank and through the filter
with no problem or sediment. There was been sediment in the
filter bowl, but not all the time. I know the line from the gas
tank to the filter is clean, it was replaced. I do not no if the is
sediment in the tank. There has been not sediment when I hand
pumped in to a glass jar.

The washer deal on the pushrod, I'll try that. I have suspected the
Rod has slipped off the fuel pump lever. Except I have got is going
By just blowing through the input tube to the pump. Maybe I have
two problem, the sediment and the pushrod.
What do you think?

Buddy

I don't have any specific advice without knowing what you've
>already done.....do you have a clear plastic filter before
>the pump? That will let you know if you actually have gas
>going into it. Don't go by fuel in the glass bowl 'cause it
>needs more coming in to push it through the pump. I've had
>several frustrating episodes with my '48 where I suspected
>the pump but it turned out to be debris in the tank plugging
>the fuel outlet.
>
>Usually its crud in the tank, sometimes in the gas line.
>
>If you know positively that your tank and fuel line are
>CLEAN and that you have fuel in the filter and pump, then
>I'd suggest that your fuel pump pushrod and/or cam lobe may
>be worn enough to make pump action sporadic. Quick fix
>sometimes for that is to place a washer on top of the
>pushrod with a dab of heavy grease to keep it in place and
>then bolt your pump stand back down - effectively lengthens
>the rod.
>
>Rare, but possible would be a ruptured diaphram in the pump,
>but you should be dumping gas in your crankcase if I'm
>thinking correctly.
>Good luck!

 

just a thought but could the pump be sucking air. is the gasket good on the filter bowl?