I am 85% sure that my problem is the fuel pump. It appears as though a previous owner installed the pump for earlier model Midgets. It's an SU AUF214. It has now failed OR the fuel line is completely blocked. I cannot locate a fuel filter in the system. I am trying to decide which pump to install. While we're on the subject, I am interested in opinions on the electronic fuel pump sold by VictoriaBritish. Would this be a good replacement? This car is not a pristine original and a full restoration to original specs is not likely (at least not by me). Thanks, in advance, for your assistance. I haven't posted here much but have almost always found the answers by searching the forums. Thanks to everybody who shares their experience so generously.
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74 Midget fuel pump
- Thread starter Mr_Roil_T
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Most auto parts stores carry a low pressure electronic fuel pump for about
$50. Autozone has it for around $40, they are all the same pumps in different boxes. I have one of these on the 4 Sprites I have on the road. No problem but they are negative ground. You will have to switch your car's polarity (if it's still + grd) or reverse the wires and keep the pump insulated from ground with a rubber donut.
$50. Autozone has it for around $40, they are all the same pumps in different boxes. I have one of these on the 4 Sprites I have on the road. No problem but they are negative ground. You will have to switch your car's polarity (if it's still + grd) or reverse the wires and keep the pump insulated from ground with a rubber donut.
G
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My e punp is plastic. It's the same as the Mr. Gasket pump. You won't have to worry about ground issues with the body.
dklawson
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I agree... if you have an SU pump, rebuild it. If it has just stopped pumping, clean its points and see if it won't fire right back up. You might not have to do anything more than clean its points... no money involved at all.
If your pump is a metal brick Facet, check out this pump on eBay:
Item # 170495366290
These are the low pressure Facet bricks. The particular items are take-offs from diesel generators being disassembled. I bought two to keep as spares. Both arrived in very clean (but diesel smelling) condition.
If your pump is a metal brick Facet, check out this pump on eBay:
Item # 170495366290
These are the low pressure Facet bricks. The particular items are take-offs from diesel generators being disassembled. I bought two to keep as spares. Both arrived in very clean (but diesel smelling) condition.
Thanks for the comeback folks. I have a pile of old SU's but have'nt fooled around much with them since it appears the main thing they need is new diapham's. If you buy a diaphram and points you have the cost of a cheap new pump.
You have me thinking though and I might have to play with what I have. I have several of the "brick" pumps that I have collected over the years and they end up standby. Can't kill them! But they are hard to put up with. I tryed mounting the one I am currently using on rubber and it still drives me nuts.
Kurt.
You have me thinking though and I might have to play with what I have. I have several of the "brick" pumps that I have collected over the years and they end up standby. Can't kill them! But they are hard to put up with. I tryed mounting the one I am currently using on rubber and it still drives me nuts.
Kurt.
Loosen the screw that holds on the points (only loosen it a little), sand the points on a piece of 400 or 600 sandpaper that is laying on a flat surface. Face off the points that are still on the pump some (just until they are shiny) and put it all back together. The pump on my Sprite was done like that about 8 years ago and is still working (jinx??).
BillM
BillM
BillM,
I think I undertook a bit more than I should have. Before I read your response, I had the diaphragm and took that pump pretty much completely apart. I sanded down the points with emery cloth. They were bad. I am wondering if I reassembled incorrectly or adjusted it incorrectly. I reinstalled it and now I can hear it pumping, but it is pumping much faster than before. I smell fuel. Don't see any leaks. Not starting. I have not yet pulled the line at the carburetors to see if I am getting fuel. No more time today. Maybe tomorrow. Let me know what you think. Thanks again.
I think I undertook a bit more than I should have. Before I read your response, I had the diaphragm and took that pump pretty much completely apart. I sanded down the points with emery cloth. They were bad. I am wondering if I reassembled incorrectly or adjusted it incorrectly. I reinstalled it and now I can hear it pumping, but it is pumping much faster than before. I smell fuel. Don't see any leaks. Not starting. I have not yet pulled the line at the carburetors to see if I am getting fuel. No more time today. Maybe tomorrow. Let me know what you think. Thanks again.
If you are smelling fuel (assuming that you mean "back by the pump") then it sounds like your diaphram is leaking (I usually seal the diaphram with a VERY LITTLE bit of Permatex Blue). It is very possible that it will siphon and KEEP leaking even with the power turned off so check that before you put it back into the garage.
If the smell is up by the engine then it is a different thing- CHECK FOR LEAKS before the fireworks go off tonight!
BillM
If the smell is up by the engine then it is a different thing- CHECK FOR LEAKS before the fireworks go off tonight!
BillM
Oh boy.
This car is teaching me stuff I didn't know I wanted to know. I think I may have installed the outlet valve backwards when I reassembled. 2 questions: 1. Does the little tab in the valve go on the downstream side of the flow of gas or upstream? 2. If I did have one or both valves in backwards, have I damaged the pump and, if so, how can tell?
I admire your patience with guys like me. Thanks again.
This car is teaching me stuff I didn't know I wanted to know. I think I may have installed the outlet valve backwards when I reassembled. 2 questions: 1. Does the little tab in the valve go on the downstream side of the flow of gas or upstream? 2. If I did have one or both valves in backwards, have I damaged the pump and, if so, how can tell?
I admire your patience with guys like me. Thanks again.
Bill, I cleaned the points on 2 pumps that I had lying around and they both are pumping but all the points sets I have are really worn. Moss wants nearly $30 for a set of points. Checked Burlen's site in the UK and they get less than half of that and will sell you just the leaf if you want it. Course if I am buying directly from the UK I imagine mailing will make up the diff. To bad someone in this country that gets a freight break for volume can't sell these cheaper.
Not that big a deal, just gets my goat!! Any one know another source?
Kurt.
Not that big a deal, just gets my goat!! Any one know another source?
Kurt.