[TR] Fuel pump problems

[Dave]

Actually, many electric pumps do suffer from the same problem.  The original
SU electric on my Stag, for example; and the original AC on my motorhome gen
set for another.


 

 Good point.  When I wrote electric fuel pumps I wasn't considering the SU.  I, too had an SU pump in my MGB.  It ran fine once I got it oriented properly.  It has surge chambers that need to be oriented to not file with gas and remain air locked else the check valves fail early.

However, anyone looking to fit an electric pump for reliability will not be fitting an SU pump.  Why when the Facet and other pumps readily available are so much cheaper and available over the counter at the nearest FLAPS.  That is one key.  You can get a replacement just about anywhere just about any time.  Getting a new diaphragm for your engine drive pump is a day away (assuming it is not a weekend.  These electric pumps have no diaphragm but have a magnetic shuttle and a series of check valve.  No chance of leaking.  And any of the electric pumps have no chance of leaking fuel into the crankcase since there is no direct conduit between the pump and the crankcase.

I've had a series of failed electric pumps in the TR8 but the pump I mounted to the engine block at the old pump location on the TR6 has been flawless since I put it on and it is in the worst possible location in terms of heat and vibration.  As in anything car related, the quality of the part you get is critical to its reliability.  Getting a good one will lead to a longer trouble free service but when the time comes and you are traveling home from VTR or Truinphest you can usually find a replacement to get you home without too much trouble.

And an electric pump will prime your carbs without getting your hands dirty.

Dave


Dave Massey


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Randall <TR3driver at ca.rr.com>
To: 'Dave' <dave1massey at cs.com>; triumphs <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Sent: Mon, Aug 21, 2017 10:01 am
Subject: RE: [TR] Fuel pump problems


> The mechanical fuel pump has a rubber diaphragm that stiffens 
> in time - especially when exposed to alcohol.  I replaced my 
> TR6 pump with an electric which has no such issues 

Actually, many electric pumps do suffer from the same problem.  The original
SU electric on my Stag, for example; and the original AC on my motorhome gen
set for another.

The one on the gen set didn't stiffen, though; instead it turned to a very
sticky jelly; which spread through the fuel lines and into the carburetor
before the pump quit working entirely.

In addition, some of the older pumps (like both of those above) have points,
which cause no end of problems.  Ask any MG owner about having to tap on the
pump to get it going!

By way of contrast, the original mechanical pump in my former daily driver
TR3A got rebuilt back in the 80s (when CA was using MTBE instead of ethanol)
and was still working fine when the car got wrecked in 2005.  Probably
200,000 miles of mostly city driving.

Then I rebuilt the original pump on my current 56 TR3 in 2008, and it still
works fine today.  I retired a couple years ago, so I don't drive as many
miles; maybe only 60,000 on it so far.  

Electric pumps wear out too.  My 95 Buick is on it's 3rd pump (that I know
of) and hasn't quite turned 300,000 yet.  Rather frustrating, as the factory
pump became intermittent.  When I had it towed to the shop after it wouldn't
start (and I had verified lack of fuel pressure and power to the pump); it
started right up for them!  Then when I went to pick it up, it wouldn't
start again.  Post mortem showed a burned segment on the commutator along
with a ragged edge in the actual pump chamber that was probably catching and
stalling the rotor.

My bout with lack of fuel delivery on the TR3 turned out to be accumulated
crud in the fuel line (twice I told the body shop specifically to cover the
fuel inlet while sanding, both times they failed to do it).  It would shift
around and almost completely block the flow, usually only after I had driven
10 or 15 miles.  Blowing shop air backwards into the tank turned the
remaining fuel absolutely black!  But solved the problem.  (I added a paper
element fuel filter to catch the floating crud.)

-- Randall


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