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Fuel pump reliability

M

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In a separate thread concerning spare parts to include in an "ideal" tool box, the discussion turned to spare fuel pumps.

A number of participants in the thread mentioned that they would carry a small electric fuel pump with them to use in case their regular fuel pump malfunctioned. (Lots of good information there!)

But this has led me to wonder how often owners of Triumphs actually experience trouble with the fuel pump. A friend of mine here in Lexington (someone who has been restoring European sports cars for 30 years) commented to me today that altough electrical fuel pumps, especially those with points that can corrode, do fail, it is highly unlikely that a mechanical fuel pump will give any trouble unless not properly maintained (clean filter).

For those reading this: What has been your experience with the mechanical fuel pump on the Triumph? Reliable? Unreliable? A spare necessary? Replace with a solid state electrical fuel pump?
 
Both my problems (different TRs, different pumps) have been with non-original pumps -- the ones w/o a priming lever, possibly labelled 'Made in Canada'.

The two failures were:

1) the pin that holds the lever fell out (was a press fit, the originals were had little c-clips I think)

2) one of the valves fell out (was swaged to hold it in, some pumps have the valves secured with a little metal butterfly piece, do not recall how originals are secured).

I have since replaced those with rebuilt original pumps with the handy priming lever and have had no further problems. That said, I still carry the electric.
 
My dad bought his Herald new in early 1964, and in early 1970 we did replace the fuel pump with a similar aftermarket pump, albeit without a priming lever. On the other hand, my current '62 Herald has an original (most likely THE original) AC fuel pump, and it's fine. It's been cleaned out once or twice in the eight years I've had the car, and the fuel filter has also been changed several times during that period.
 
over on the (gasp) MG side they are discussing a spare fuel pump inline with the existing. Now that's my type of spare.
 
Two problems with the AC pump over 19 years:

1) The little bolt on the top of the pump decided to auto-strip one time. It didn't pop off, just loosened enough to leak and stink up the garage. Fixed it with a longer bolt. I must have stripped it earlier and not realized it.

2) Had the check valve on discharge side of the pump drop down and get cocked in the pocket. The car would run fine until below 1/2 tank level, then it would lose power for longer and longer duration. I never got stranded, but had at least 1 dodgy drive back home. I made sure to put extra "punches" around the valves during that rebuild.

I'd rate the AC pumps as pretty reliable.
 
DNK said:
over on the (gasp) MG side they are discussing a spare fuel pump inline with the existing. Now that's my type of spare.
The MGA used an electric pump originally, and they were famous for being troublesome. A set of points inside the pump would arc every time the pump clicked, and over time the arc would burn the points until they no longer made good connection. Similar to the way ignition points get old, but unlike ignition points, the pump points don't get cycled again if they don't make contact.

Of course, most people wouldn't replace the points when that happened; instead they would thump the pump which would jostle the points enough to get them working again for some time. If you left the battery cover off, you could actually thump the pump from the driver's seat ...

There are better solutions IMO than a redundant pump, but some folks were emotionally scarred by the experience of driving with one hand and thumping the pump with the other
grin.gif


And BTW, there is at least one Triumph on this forum with a redundant pump.

But, as I said before, IMO the original TR2-4A mechanical pump is very reliable, once you install a diaphragm that is compatible with modern fuels. In 35 years, I've never had one fail to get me home (although there have been several leaks).
 
Again it comes down to the quality (or lack therof) of the parts. The original pump will go for years without issue, it might get a bit weepy but keeps on pumping.
Some of the replacement gasket kits left a lot to be desired. There was an issue for a while where the replacement diaphragm would fail and you pump fuel into your sump.
The main reason I want to swap over to a modern electric pump is the speed of priming, resistence to all modern fuels and make a bit more space in the engine bay not having the mechanical pump there.
 
So far, it appears that the experience of contributors to this thread has been good, as long as the fuel pump is well maintained. The problem that is mentioned with some frequency has to do with the effect of ethanol on mechanical fuel pump components. Fortunately, in this part of the world, and perhaps elsewhere where there are a lot of farmers, the local Farmers Cooperative carries non-ethanol gas, perhaps because so many farmers need it for their machines (I'm guessing). This is the only gas I use in my TR3, and I keep my fingers crossed that the Coop will continue to supply gas. I suspect there are other such sources across the states.

Regarding the reliability of the mechanical fuel pump, it appears that the two following admonitions are equally valid: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" and "Always Be Prepared."

Readers: please continue to mention any problems with the mechanical fuel pump and, after a while, I will collate the responses and prepare a summary that may be of some use to Triumph drivers. Many thanks.
 
Ten years of daily use, winter and summer, in my TR3A with no fuel pump problems. I do remember delivering a spare (electric) to my buddy with an MG on several occasions, usually in the middle of the night. Tom
 
Recognize this ?
It's the filter screen from inside an aftermarket replacement pump. If you ever do replace your fuel pump, transfer the brass screen to the new pump because I believe the deformation of the plastic was due to alcohol.
Filter.jpg
 
Randall! You would not be referring to a certain red, 1969 TR6 as having a redundant pump would you?

I went thru 4 mechanical pumps in less than 1000 miles of stop and breakdown driving. Paul Rego kindly sent me a beautifully rebuilt/restored mechanical pump and Don sent me a nice electric pump. I installed them in parallel with an easy switch over. 6000 miles later, Paul's pump is working just fine.
 
Tinster,

Were the 4 mechanical pumps that broke down on you "reproduction" pumps? I assume the one Paul sent you was an original restored pump, and that one is working fine.
 
My 1996 Chris Craft boat has a carburator and an electric fuel pump that I replaced past summer the pump cost me 200.00 at the dealer but figured out its made by carter and you can get them online if you want to go that route, I have a carter fuel pump on my TR6 with an oil pressure switch that cuts the pump off on no oil pressure the napa number is op6092 ( switch closes with 5 PSI) just get a brass T fitting and you can add it to the oil pressure port.

Hondo
 
LexTR3 said:
...the local Farmers Cooperative carries non-ethanol gas, perhaps because so many farmers need it for their machines (I'm guessing)...

Am I the only one who sees the irony in farmers not using gas with ethanol in it?
 
TR3driver said:
Of course, most people wouldn't replace the points when that happened; instead they would thump the pump which would jostle the points enough to get them working again for some time. If you left the battery cover off, you could actually thump the pump from the driver's seat ....
Ah memories! Back in the early 1970s, a buddy of mine had an MG-TD (actually, I think he still has it). On those earlier MGs, the SU electric pump was a "puller" pump mounted up on the firewall, RH side. I have a vivid memory of helping him get back to his house one day when the pump acted up; we carefully flipped open the RH side of the bonnet, and I rode in the passenger seat, occasionally reaching out and forward to thump the pump until we could get back to his house and do a somewhat more proper repair (clean/adjust points)!

Meanwhile, I also appreciate that irony, Geo! :laugh:
 
poolboy said:
FWIW, the TR2-4 rebuild kit I got from TRF came with a brass screen that fit perfectly. It is available separately under P/N 500419.

Also, just in case anyone doesn't already know; using "farm gas" in a car driven on public roads is likely to be a violation of both federal and state laws.

The whole MTBE/Ethanol thing is rich in irony (and paved in good intentions), IMO, but this isn't the place to discuss it.
 
Geo Hahn said:
LexTR3 said:
...the local Farmers Cooperative carries non-ethanol gas, perhaps because so many farmers need it for their machines (I'm guessing)...

Am I the only one who sees the irony in farmers not using gas with ethanol in it?

LOL! A bit more than "tiny", methinks . . . :yesnod:
 
Hi, Randall,

Thankfully, the ethanol-free gas sold at the local Coop is not designated "farm gas," and it is pumped from standard fuel pumps for automobiles. It comes in the three standard octanes, etc., etc. So, for some reason here in Virginia, it is legal to sell ethanol-free gas to the general public for automobiles driven on public roads.

I have never seen any pumps labeled "farm gas" at Farmers Cooperatives, although farmers do buy a lot of kerosene. And, of course, I see a lot of old trucks on the road with plaques proclaiming "Farm Use." It seems to be available to meet the needs of "older cars," cars with old style carburetors (no computer), lawn mowers, and some tractors and other farm equipment -- although anyone with any kind of car can use it.

I should add that there are also a few rural gas stations out in the county (Rockbridge County)that advertise ethanol-free gas at their gas pumps.

I don't know what's going on here, but I'm thankful for the ethanol-free gas for the time being. Perhaps the laws are different in Sunny California.

Mark: Do you have any of these stations in Albemarle County or in Charlottesville?

HERE IS AN UPDATE: I went to Pure-Gas.org, which provides a list of places in the U.S. and Canada where you can buy ethanol-free gas. There's quite a long list. Most states are listed, but not California. I guess that explains it.
 
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