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Again and again that SU fuel Pump !
- Thread starter Brit_Brother
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I had two very unusual problems in the 35 years that I have had my Healey which defied all the usual things that can happen with fuel delivery.
The first one was the car would be going down the highway and die off and as soon as I was on the shoulder it would start up again. Luck was with me and I ended up in St Mary's, Georgis at a foreign car repair shop(actually owned by an ex service manager for a Healey dealership in the area). The owner seemed to be delighted to work on the Healey(not many Healey's around there). The problem turned out to be dirt in the sump. A quick blast of air at the fuel line connection and it cleared up and stayed clear for many years. Caution: Don't do this wih a full tank of gas.
The second time the carbs wouldn't get any fuel even after swapping pumps was due to a near solid obstruction in the fuel line that runs from the tank to the pump. This was confirmed by inserting a 1/8" diameter drain cleaner in the fuel line and verifying the blockage. The drain cleaner would not clear the blockage and I had cut out a 4' section of the fuel line. I reconnected the line with fuel line hose and it hasn't been a problem since then.
The first one was the car would be going down the highway and die off and as soon as I was on the shoulder it would start up again. Luck was with me and I ended up in St Mary's, Georgis at a foreign car repair shop(actually owned by an ex service manager for a Healey dealership in the area). The owner seemed to be delighted to work on the Healey(not many Healey's around there). The problem turned out to be dirt in the sump. A quick blast of air at the fuel line connection and it cleared up and stayed clear for many years. Caution: Don't do this wih a full tank of gas.
The second time the carbs wouldn't get any fuel even after swapping pumps was due to a near solid obstruction in the fuel line that runs from the tank to the pump. This was confirmed by inserting a 1/8" diameter drain cleaner in the fuel line and verifying the blockage. The drain cleaner would not clear the blockage and I had cut out a 4' section of the fuel line. I reconnected the line with fuel line hose and it hasn't been a problem since then.
dklawson
Yoda
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I run pre-filters before my car's pumps. I don't use a super fine filter but one of the Purolator glass bodied ones with replaceable elements. The filters looks like very fine screen, not paper like you'd find in a disposable filter.
Smiths and/or the LBC manufacturer typically placed a screen type pre-filter either on the fuel tank's pickup tube or on the sending unit itself if the tube was built onto the sender. Your pump can certainly handle the added suction requirements of such a coarse filter. I don't know that I'd put a paper element one between the tank and pump though.
Smiths and/or the LBC manufacturer typically placed a screen type pre-filter either on the fuel tank's pickup tube or on the sending unit itself if the tube was built onto the sender. Your pump can certainly handle the added suction requirements of such a coarse filter. I don't know that I'd put a paper element one between the tank and pump though.
OP
Brit_Brother
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MUUUp !
ANd the winner is ... > Patrick67BJ8
Yes the SU pump is working and the previous one was also probably working well
so are the filters and fuel lines before and after the pump.
The cause of the fuel starvation was the fuel line connection to the tank: yes that little silly thing! unscrew blow screw...
End of a long story!
Thank you every contributor , and thanks a lot to the winner!
Btw
While I was under the car I changed the exhaust because I was tired of the noise of the Moss muffler: yes someone said it here and it is true : that Moss resonates A LOT around 2200 RPM . I changed it for a Bell ! What a great sound improvement.
Have a great week end
ANd the winner is ... > Patrick67BJ8
Yes the SU pump is working and the previous one was also probably working well
so are the filters and fuel lines before and after the pump.
The cause of the fuel starvation was the fuel line connection to the tank: yes that little silly thing! unscrew blow screw...
End of a long story!
Thank you every contributor , and thanks a lot to the winner!
Btw
While I was under the car I changed the exhaust because I was tired of the noise of the Moss muffler: yes someone said it here and it is true : that Moss resonates A LOT around 2200 RPM . I changed it for a Bell ! What a great sound improvement.
Have a great week end
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Glad to hear that you solved the problem Brit_Brother!! Most of the time most of the problems are pretty straight forward including the troubleshooting. It doesn't hurt to every 20 or so years blow out the fuel line, brake lines and replace the wiring harness(it's the only thing you can't blow out).
I've had just about everything that can happen to a person who owns a Healey happen at least twice and an occassional "I'll never forget the time that...".
Patrick
I've had just about everything that can happen to a person who owns a Healey happen at least twice and an occassional "I'll never forget the time that...".
Patrick
pan
Jedi Warrior
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In reply to Patrick67BJ8 "I've had just about everything that can happen...."
I bet you have never experienced the timing chain breaking, the remnants collecting around the crankshaft gear, jamming it and the still turning crankshaft shearing off the woodruff key! Then the timing case burst and the broken chain fell on the ground!! This happened to me in Sydney (600 miles from home) many years ago.
To repair the damage I had to remove the crankshaft gear and the only way was to hacksaw it off!
Ah, what memories.
I bet you have never experienced the timing chain breaking, the remnants collecting around the crankshaft gear, jamming it and the still turning crankshaft shearing off the woodruff key! Then the timing case burst and the broken chain fell on the ground!! This happened to me in Sydney (600 miles from home) many years ago.
To repair the damage I had to remove the crankshaft gear and the only way was to hacksaw it off!
Ah, what memories.
Regards filter before the pump. I run a paper in plastic filter. It is a little larger, about 1 1/2 x 1 1/4 with one nozzle at a right angle. Works fine. I also have a plastic one at the carb. Don't really need it but I like to see the fuel in it.
I never had a ground wire for the pump because I never knew there was one! Wasn't on my car. Works fine but it good to know.
I never had a ground wire for the pump because I never knew there was one! Wasn't on my car. Works fine but it good to know.
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I can't say that I had a timing chain failure quite like yours. Maybe someone can top your story with 601 miles??
One hacksaw with blade and how much beer to get you going again?
Did you save the gear & chain that you cut off? I still have my first voltage regulator & fuel pump that left me stranded. Just hate to throw those memories away.
With respect to sanity....what in the heck were you doing 600 miles away from home in a 100?? Back to the couch for you!!
Patrick
One hacksaw with blade and how much beer to get you going again?
Did you save the gear & chain that you cut off? I still have my first voltage regulator & fuel pump that left me stranded. Just hate to throw those memories away.
With respect to sanity....what in the heck were you doing 600 miles away from home in a 100?? Back to the couch for you!!
Patrick
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My first Healey BN2 in 1959 "spit" the timing chain out through the cover at around 15,000 miles. This immediatly prompted an engine change to a small block Chevy. It was a "good" excuse to do what I wanted at the time. Didn't even take the Four apart.
Until now, I've not heard of any other timing chain failures.
D
Until now, I've not heard of any other timing chain failures.
D
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Hi Keoke,
Wasn't afraid to take looong trips in those days. Gas cost a lot less also.
D
Wasn't afraid to take looong trips in those days. Gas cost a lot less also.
D
