My 50 F-1 Flathead 6 was running, although kinda sketchy when it just quit one day while at idle. It seemed like it was out of gas, so I put 7 gallons in but still no start.

I took off the fuel line to the carb and cranked the motor, no gas. There is gas in the glass bowl, I changed the filter, and I took the fuel pump off and checked the lines, there doesnt seem to be anything clogged.

The gas cap is the one that has been on for years.

Any suggestions?

Eric

 

the gas cap has no real affect on the fuel other than keeping it in the tank. it sounds like you took the fuel out of the glass bowl and there is no fuel going back to it? I would say its the pump as long as you have fuel in the tank and did check the fuel pressure at the carb. you could try putting some fuel down the carb to get it to run for a second or two and see if fuel fills into the glass bowl. If no fuel gets there then your pump is bad. Thats how I have checked em at least. The whole system is gravity fed until fuel goes from the pump to the carb.

 

What he said.

My pump went out a few weeks ago. Fuel was in the bowl, but would not get to the carb. Pour some in the carb (just a cap full) and she would run fine. No gas coming out of the gas line from the pump to the carb. Filters were not clogged. Gas would come out of the line going into the pump. Just the pump not working.

 

Unless the vent gets plugged, then no gas gas leave the tank. But this is usually a case where the engine will run for a few minutes then die.

 

Hi Folks,

I think I have to respectfully disagree with this statement. If you have ever put a non-vented gas cap on the pipe and had an electric fuel pump, you would know the sound of the gas tank crumpling as it got sucked in on itself. If yo think you aren't getting enough venting, take th ecap off when you try and start it.

I would however tend to agree that this is probably the fuel pump. But also check to make sure you can blow into the fuel line and there is no blockage at the tank. Sometimes there is a little metal screen in the tank at the fuel line that rusts closed, or plugs.

Also, you might want to check the fuel pump rod to make sure it hasn't broken or slipped out of place (flathead).

Good Luck!

J!