[Healeys] Fuel Pumps (AGAIN!)

Tue Nov 27 08:19:14 MST 2018

Thanks for the reply Kees.  I do have a vent tube from the solenoid body 
vent into the boot, and I've never installed a pump without the proper 
seal (tape) between the cap and the solenoid body.  I've seen a couple 
variants of the vent on the electronics cap; some have a cap over the 
vent which precludes the tube.  One of the pumps did suffer from severe 
corrosion--IIRC I sent a photo to the List--so that is something to 
investigate.  However, one of the pumps failed in less than 1,000 miles 
and never saw rain.

Bob

On 11/27/2018 2:58 AM, Kees Oudesluijs wrote:
>  Bob,
>
>
> I have heard as well from Pel de Haas, a Dutch business partner of 
> Dave Dubois who also converts SU-pumps using Dave´s system, that he is 
> not well and at least for the moment out of action.
>
> Your problems with the SU-pump are really a mystery to me. If adjusted 
> following the instructions there should be no problem at all. The only 
> thing that can cause problems is electrolytic corrosion of the points. 
> Perhaps the pump ventilation is not connected up? Both the vent on the 
> cover and the vent on the coil housing should be connected via a tube 
> to a dry place, usually the boot. Also a rubber band or friction tape 
> should be used to seal the cover. If the vent on the cover has a 
> plastic cap instead of a tube connection, this should point upwards as 
> should be the small domed air chamber of the pump body. This is not 
> always the case as often the coil housing has been fitted in the wrong 
> orientation. The pump should always be fitted horizontally with the 
> outlet on top.
>
> If the pump/car is stored for a longer period, especially in a not 
> dehumidified or damp environment, it is best to remove the cover and 
> slide a bit of acid free paper between the points to prevent 
> electrolytic corrosion. However I never had to do this on my own car, 
> where the pump is situated in the boot.
>
>
> Kees Oudesluijs
>
>
>
> Op 27-11-2018 om 05:17 schreef Bob Spidell:
>> I've been using fuel pumps with Dave DuBois' opto-electric mods for 
>> years.  Although Dave's work and response is impeccable I've not had 
>> consistent success with them, though everything in the design and 
>> implementation indicates they should be infallible.  I had 3 'in 
>> rotation;' one failed after less than a thousand miles this summer--I 
>> changed it out for another DD conversion on the side of the road--and 
>> that one has now failed.  It worked fine after installation for over 
>> 5,000 miles but has sat in my shop for about 5 months, and failed to 
>> answer the call today.  I swapped in my last 'spare' and, so far it's 
>> working though I've only put about 10 miles on it.  Others have 
>> worked for over 10K miles before expiring. Apparently, Dave has 
>> health issues so cannot address the problems with these pumps.
>>
>> Although having committed to these solid state conversions I still 
>> have plenty of parts to assemble a couple points-driven pumps. 
>> Problem is, I haven't had good luck with them either and, last I 
>> checked, the aftermarket points are of suspect quality (Dave 
>> concurred with this assessment).  I have studied all aspects of these 
>> pumps and done my best to assemble and adjust them, and they aren't 
>> abused in service--though some have suffered from getting, er, 
>> 'moist' in serious rainstorms--and I just don't understand it (I've 
>> 'fixed' a couple in motel rooms).  I know Kees and others have gotten 
>> years and thousands of mile off points they don't work reliably for 
>> me and, yes, I've used capacitors, transistors, diodes and TVSes for 
>> spark suppression, all with the same erratic longevity and 
>> reliability.  I do think, at over 5K miles/year on my BJ8 I probably 
>> work my car harder than most but still think I should be able to get 
>> more from these pumps.  I don't abuse them aside from driving my car 
>> fairly frequently and for one long trip of up to 5K miles every year.
>>
>> Still, I will stick with SU pumps because, well, just because. They 
>> are the heartbeat of a Healey and the kind that run continuously are 
>> annoying.   But, I don't know where to go from here.  I hate to buy 
>> another as I probably have enough parts to assemble 4 or 5 with 
>> points (if I could find good quality points).  SC Parts was 
>> advertising an aftermarket substitute--diaphragm type--but it has 
>> weird fittings--I'm not going to cut into my original banjo-fitted 
>> pipes--and is for negative ground only.
>>
>> Thanks for listening.
>>
>> Bob
>>
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