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Banjo Fittings
- Thread starter vette
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Check that your gaskets are intalled correctly.
OP
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Thanks Patrick, But what am I missing. I've inspected them thourouhly. Put on new gaskets. I mean the banjo fitting has a flat matting surface to the gasket, and the pump has a flat matting surface, so what else is there. I do realize that there is a recesed seating surface in the side of the banjo that meets the shoulder of the bolt, but I have checked that it is seated well there also. But there is one odd thing about this fitting. When I bought the car many years ago I eventually had a leak here. When I took it apart I noticed that the previous owner had put two gaskets on the side of the banjo that matted with the pump. I put it back together the same way which caused the bolt to not have as many threads into the pump. Sure enough, I started to strip the threads in the pump. But I stopped, took the extra gasket off and restarted the bolt and the threads held. They held that way for 7 years. But because of that I am very careful to not pull on the threads hard. Maybe it is just time to buy a new pump. Do you or anyone else ever put some type of a sealant on the gaskets? Dave.
Legal Bill
Jedi Knight
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Sometimes those surfaces are not as "flat" as they should be.
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I never used a sealant but I have on occasion used pipe thread teflon tape. Can you post pics showing your gaskets and sequense that you used to install them? I've never heard of fuel pump threads wearing out but they could. I'd try new gaskets and banjo bolts before replacing the pump.
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
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Hey Vette: some of the new puomps require an " O " ring and the paper washer to seal up OK.
Brinkerhoff
Jedi Knight
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check and make sure the body of the banjo fitting does not foul the body of the pump as you tighten the holdown bolt. check also the circular face of the fitting for any scarring. if all is ok then only one fiber washer should be needed on each side of the fitting.
OP
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Good point about the type of banjo fitting but I have heard of the ones that require an "O" ring but have never seen one. This pump looks like the one that Moss advertises as the new SU pump for the later BJ8s. Part # 377-161. I'm pretty sure it uses the fibre washers. I have one washer on each side of the banjo. I did notice that when I took the doubled up washer off the joining surface between the banjo and the pump body that the nut on the fuel pipe to the banjo did hit the pump body. It occurred because the nut was turned in that the point of the nut between two flats was in a position that it was the most protruding point towards the pump body. ( hope that makes some sense). That really made me wonder what was wrong. I believe the PO put the doubled washer on to move the banjo a smidgen away from the pump body so I put double washers on as well. that is a bad idea because it causes the bolt to grab just a bit less threads than it should, hence stripped threads in the pump body. I finally realized to turn the nut joining the fuel pipe to the banjo just a wee bit tighter so that the nut had its flat adjacent to the pump body and it did not hit the pump body anymore. So I was able to put the banjo on with one washer on the outside of the banjo and one washer between the banjo and the pump body. But the washer still got wet. So in desperation I coated the washers with Copper Coat Head Gasket Sealant. I let it sit for 2 days because I was out of the shop. this morning I energised the pumps and got no leak. So it appears to be holding. But I don't like the fact that I needed the Copper Coat to make it seal. I am under the impression that these fibre washers can be reused a few times. But I don't know how old mine are and I have a handful of them in a bin. They all look the same. So I have to order some more stuff so I will get some new washers as well. I am hoping that this current arrangement will hold but it makes me nervous thinking about a fuel leak. Thanks for the ideas. Dave.
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
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Good point about the type of banjo fitting but I have heard of the ones that require an "O" ring but have never seen one
These pumps rather than having a flush surface for the banjo fitting to seat on have a shallow recess that requires the " O " ring then the paper washer to seal
These pumps rather than having a flush surface for the banjo fitting to seat on have a shallow recess that requires the " O " ring then the paper washer to seal
Bob_Spidell
Yoda
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FWIW, all the newer pumps I've seen from Burlen--several--use O-rings. Only the older pumps use washers only.
There should be no stacking of washers, sealants or tape required (and I usually use a sealant elsewhere; exhaust fittings, paper gaskets, etc.). If your pump uses only fiber washers and they're not sealing something else is wrong. I've noticed the newer washers from most suppliers--they're usually black instead of orange-brown as the originals were--seem to be harder than original. They seem to work OK, but may need to be re-tightened after a few hours of use. Also, the washers take a set and deform slightly when installed; do not re-use them unless you're sure to re-install in exact same locations. I've also soaked them briefly in light oil before installing to soften them up a little.
I respect Eric G but I have, more often than not, been able to get a seal that doesn't weep.
There should be no stacking of washers, sealants or tape required (and I usually use a sealant elsewhere; exhaust fittings, paper gaskets, etc.). If your pump uses only fiber washers and they're not sealing something else is wrong. I've noticed the newer washers from most suppliers--they're usually black instead of orange-brown as the originals were--seem to be harder than original. They seem to work OK, but may need to be re-tightened after a few hours of use. Also, the washers take a set and deform slightly when installed; do not re-use them unless you're sure to re-install in exact same locations. I've also soaked them briefly in light oil before installing to soften them up a little.
I respect Eric G but I have, more often than not, been able to get a seal that doesn't weep.
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