[Mgs] SU fuel pumps

The Roxter rocknatural at gmail.com
Thu Dec 16 18:04:45 MST 2010


On 12/16/2010 1:25 PM, Eric J Russell wrote:
> > I would have to periodically "thump" the fuel pump...
>
> It is likely I've told this story before but why should that stop me?
>
> I bought my MGA when I was in high school (1970). When the fuel pump 
> needed frequent whacks to keep running I removed it and took inside 
> to my Dad's basement workshop. I had it partially disassembled when 
> Dad happened to walk by. He stopped and in a more angry than curious 
> voice he asked, "where did you get that?"
>
> I explained that it was the fuel pump from my MG and I was fixing it 
> because it kept getting stuck due to worn/burned points.
>
> My Dad was am aircraft mechanic who was trained by the Army Air 
> Corps as a pilot during WW2. He flew C47's in the India/China/Burma 
> theater. After the war he flew for Northeast Airlines and later Delta.
>
> Anyway, my Dad said the mechanism for the running lights in the C47 
> (also known as the DC3) looked exactly like the SU fuel pump.
>
> He said that had recently been in the captain's seat of a DC9 (twin 
> engine jet) waiting to take off from Boston's Logan airport. A cargo 
> DC3 was at the head of the line but the control tower would not give 
> them permission to take off because their running lights were not 
> flashing. The lights would turn on but not flash. After many 
> frustrating minutes waiting as the DC3's crew tried to fix the 
> lights my Dad broke in over the radio and said, "pilot of DC3, tell 
> your navigator to thump the panel above his right knee with his fist."
>
> There was a moment of radio silence then the DC3's running lights 
> began to flash.
>
> "DC3 - clear for take off".
Well, it worked for the Millennium Falcon.


-Rocky Frisco
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