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Well ain't this just peaches and cream.

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Alright, my current plan is to assume that the pump can't "overpressure" (because I just don't see a mechanism for that to happen) but is perhaps providing "better" pressure since I messed with it than it was before, and this is causing the old tired components in the fuel system to fail. So I'm going to go buy some fuel hose and some clamps, and replace all the hose and clamp it down (yeah, I know, the carb to carb connector hoses are supposed to be press fit. But I'm going to clamp them), add an inline fuel filter, and then see where I'm at. There's no way the fuel line connections will fail after that, but if my float valves now fail again, I'll likely order completely new valves and seats and a new fuel pump. If it's still a problem after that, I suppose I'll get a regulator.
 
Was there a spacer or thick gasket between the pump and the block that may not have gone back on? You can space out the pump some to reduce pressure (reduces the leverage on the pump). You can stack gaskets with gasket sealer to accomplish the same thing.
 
No, no spacer. That's a good thought though, I could always add one...

ETA: Hmm, I don't remember there being a gasket even. I wonder if I lost the gasket. That wouldn't make enough pressure difference though, would it?
 
The Spitfire has 2 types of pumps. a straight arm and a curved arm. The curved arm pump is longer and requires a spacer.

Any chance the TR pump has a similiar issue?
 
Don_R said:
Any chance the TR pump has a similiar issue?
Click to expand...

Not that I know of, but this is the same pump that was working before, and while I may have missed a gasket when I put it back, there's no way I missed a big spacer!
 
Ok, I put new hoses in and clamped them down, and exactly what I expected to happen happened, the float bowls just started overflowing again. So I went ahead and ordered a new pump and gasket, and new needle valves (Thanks KSIS for your offer to help me find a used pump, but the repro wasn't a ton of money, so I just went ahead and did it)
 
I took the Spit out tonight for about five miles as the sun went down, on a shakedown run after rebuilding the carbs. I think it's running a little rich, but even so, after having all my toys out of commission for a few weeks, it put a smile on my face and reminded me why I'm doing all this! Also got a big :thumbsup: from a couple guys sitting on their lawn as I went by :smile:
 
Nothing like a quick run, top down, to blow out the cobwebs. For me I find one every, oh four years or so, keeps me going. Sad, really. LOL.

Glad you had fun tonight!
 
jdubois said:
ETA: Hmm, I don't remember there being a gasket even. I wonder if I lost the gasket. That wouldn't make enough pressure difference though, would it?
Click to expand...

It could depending on the gasket thickness. I've seen one gasket make a 1/2lb difference before. Which can be enough to sink the floats.
 
swift6 said:
It could depending on the gasket thickness. I've seen one gasket make a 1/2lb difference before. Which can be enough to sink the floats.
Click to expand...

Well that would certainly explain the situation, since nothing else makes sense. When the new pump comes in, I'll put the new gasket on the old pump first and see if that fixes the situation. If so, I can just keep the new pump on the shelf as a spare.
 
The problem with a regulator is that the cheap ones are just a needle valve, that restricts the flow, which means it's high when the fuel demands are low, and low when the fuel demands are high.

A "real" regulator runs close to a hundred bucks, and the best price I've found is from Summit.

FWIW
 
Holley.

The "dial" ones are pre-FUBAR'd and dangerous.
 
jdubois -Where in Mass do you live? Someone please define fubar for him on pm. This thread has been amazing to follow.
 
:lol:

Holley GOOD! Dial style BAAD! :wink:
 
John_Malinick said:
jdubois -Where in Mass do you live?
Click to expand...

Hudson area.

John_Malinick said:
Someone please define fubar for him on pm.
Click to expand...

Fubar I know
grin.gif
I wasn't sure if the Holley ones <span style="font-style: italic">were</span> the dial ones or not.
 
I've seen the dial ones spontaneously change settings, seen 'em leak, even fly apart and spew fuel everywhere... some cases resulted in a loud "BARK".
...think FIRE: <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #FF0000">"WOOF!"</span></span> :shocked:

<span style="font-style: italic">
EDIT: When I would find one on a client's car I would recommend changing it out. If they were ummm.... "thrifty" the thing got two tie-wraps in an "X" around the dial body as a sorta-kinda safety wire.</span>
 
DrEntropy said:
I've seen the dial ones spontaneously change settings, seen 'em leak, even fly apart and spew fuel everywhere...
Click to expand...

So, in other words, everything I'm already used to? :wink:
 
Indeed, there was a safety recall on one of the dial-type regulators a few years back. Sold under 3 or 4 names as I recall, including Purolator.
 
I will always regard 'em as junk, Randall. "Recall" or not. :wink:
 
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