Oh no, not the fuel pump !

[cronapress]

The Black Beast refused to start yesterday. Cranked over a treat - nothing. Fat sparks at plugs. Plugs bone dry (here we go). Cracked banjo's at carbs, not a drop ! Outlet of pump, not a drop. Check tank - three quarters full. New (ish) pipes all round in good nick. Cut last half inch off the lot and reconnected to ensure tight fit. Fuel filter almost new and pristine looking within. Plastic micro filter in pump body clean as a whistle. Blow down pipes into tank, hubble-bubble galore without any great resistance.

Before lashing out over £70/ $112 on a new kit to throw in the pump, can anyone suggest ANYTHING I may have overlooked ??

Oh yes, I tried giving a quick blow into inlet and outlet of pump to "worry" any foreign body off a valve seat etc. Made no difference.

The fresh ideas Dept. has just closed for the night. Damn !!!

[lindenengineering]

Probably the pump has gone dry and the fuel won't lift at cranking speed. Not too un-common a problem.
We lift the plenum up off the carbs and prop it up with a screwdriver rammed down the dip stick tube.
Now with a small cup of fuel at hand, drizzle some "pet-rol" down each carb throat and crank it with the front banjo bolt loose. After several crank starts, runs and starvation stalls, the pump should have run at a suitable speed to lift same fuel where it will start spilling out of the loose banjo. Tighten the banjo bolt and crank away as you normally would and it should fire This is a common issue when the vehicle has been parked for some time.
Dennis

[cronapress]

Many thanks Dennis for the suggestion. I will give that a try, although it was only about 6hrs since it was last running. Sorry, I should have included that with the diagnostics bumf !

It's a pity she's failed just now, as most of the UK and especially here in Scotland have had a heavy covering of snow since before Christmas. A mean level of 12" hereabouts with deep drifts where it has been blowing off the moor/fields etc. Chicken feed compared to some locations in the US I know. A lot of local councils have almost run out of salt/grit. Only the main roads and motorways get the odd teaspoonfull spread on them ! The Pinz has been earning her keep pulling folk out of ditches, up hills etc. Just the wrong time to fail eh.

I digress.

Time to put some clobber on and start dribbling !!

[lindenengineering]

OK, With the six hour duration time from the previous start then I would look at the suction hose from the tank stand pipe tube to the fuel pump and in line filter as a start point .

If the hose has cracked/deteriorated or simply come loose it will allow air to be sucked in and destroy the ability of the pump to lift fuel.

The same goes for a K series. The added suction side pick up inclusion for the old BN4 heater if installed (can and often does) cause fuel lift problems on the whole system causing similar symptoms as posted,
Dennis

[cronapress]

Bit the bullet and purchased the pump refurb. kit. Removed pump to warmth of kitchen and very carefully stripped it down. Cleaned the body etc. and carefully reassembled with new diaphrams and gaskets. Took my usual precaution of marking everything in site to ensure it goes back as nature intended.

Reassembled in the Beast, cranked (a lot) - not a drop from the brass outlet. Put small container of petrol alongside pump and short pipe to inlet - no suck.

Does it need priming initially methinks ? Braced a short inlet pipe in vertical position to pump inlet with a mini funnel on top (funnel higher than pump). Filled pipe/funnel up with juice, crank - bubble-spit-bubble-spit but nowt out of outlet.

Will strip the pump again and re-check everything later.

Thought ... the "head" of the pump (immediately above the main diaphram) has an oval stainless cap-looking dooferiser inset flush into it. A small metal pressing secured with one grub screw lies below it, but a small standoff distance away. Is this a valve ? Could there be a problem in the head ? The refurb. kit doesn't address the head at all.

I checked that the tappet that contacts the cam moves up and down the set amount, so therfore (?) the main diaphram is leaping up and down.

Now getting a little despondant.

Dennis - I haven't dribbled yet. Reckon there should be a small discharge of juice at outlet IF the pump is working, allbeit at crank speed only.

This is becoming a right pain. Watch this space.

Mike.

[cronapress]

Carefully stripped the pump down again and reassembled. Pressed lever within - sample of fuel spurts from outlet. Put pump assy back on that big block thing that makes a noise, with inlet hose in an adjacent small jar of juice. Crank, crank, vroooom - aways she fires sweetly !

Tranfer inlet hose to outlet of fuel filter. Restart - runs like a clock.

So what was THAT all about then ?? Discovered on 2nd strip down that the stainless valve/dooferiser thingy was a thin stainless valve flap. Cunning.

Hopefully, that's it sorted. Had some fun along the way, but that's what Pinz ownership is all about ain't it ?

Thanks Dennis for your unfailing help. Your'e a star !!

Mike.

[lindenengineering]

cronapress
Yes its a simple pump and it proves the KISS theory/philosophy shown throughout the vehicle.
The valve disc of course can get held off its seat by contamination and distortion, but as you have proved a careful tear down and rework has brought it back to life!
Well done.
Greetings to you up there in Bonnie Scotland, and lets hope the weather turns as it has here in Colorado---After living in a virtual meat storage locker for weeks we have 45dgf all this coming week!
Cheers Dennis

[totaljoint]

The Goatwerks web site parts list has an alternative fuel pump for the pinz as a NAPA M60175.

Does anyone have experience if this fits and works/performs as needed for our purposes? I get the impression from this thread that only the original is appropriate?
Thanks!