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Special Sports Fuel Woes

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 9:11 am
by Peter Grant
I have a problem with my car.
When I went to attract it today it was not pumping up fuel. The car has a solid state fuel pump and I thought it was low on fuel so I poured in 20 litres of fuel but still nothing, the fuel pump was tack tack tacking away and no fuel coming up.
I then changed the fuel filter, still no fuel, blew air through the fuel line and heard the gurgle re connected everything's, still nothing so then fitted a new electric fuel pump in place of the existing one and still nothing.
Took the fuel cap off, just in case, no change, no fuel.
This has never happened before, so don't know what else to do.
Would you clever people give me some tips.
The engine is turning over nicely, strong battery, loud fuel pump, but no fuel.
Frustrated of Sydney!
Peter Grabt

Re: Special Sports Fuel Woes

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 9:12 am
by Peter Grant
I hate auto text, I wnTed to start my car, not attract it!
Peter Grant

Re: Special Sports Fuel Woes

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 10:25 am
by HenryC
Have you checked that the float chamber needles in the carb are not stuck? If they are rubber tipped this can happen.

Re: Special Sports Fuel Woes

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 11:02 am
by Petelang
I've had a similar problem before, it was a loose pipe clip, allowing air to be drawn in and consequently pump could not pull the fuel through. Check all pipe clips from tank sender to pump.
Peter

Re: Special Sports Fuel Woes

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 9:55 pm
by Peter Grant
Gentlemen,
I shall check both and report back.
Another suggestion is that there is a vacuum on the outlet side and to pour petrol into the fuel,pump from the carburretors to try to break the seal.
More tinkering ahead!
Cheers
Peter Grabt

Re: Special Sports Fuel Woes

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 6:56 am
by Crossley Stephenson
Well PG, is The Yellow Peril supping heartily again or not?

MP

Re: Special Sports Fuel Woes

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 1:46 am
by Peter Grant
Hi Michael,
Not yet. it was just too hot to be working on the car over the week end.
I will have a tinker maybe this evening and report back.
Cheers
Peter

Re: Special Sports Fuel Woes

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 12:46 pm
by Peter Grant
Okay.
I have ascertained that the electric fuel pump previously in the car is working well.
I reattached it to the firewall where it has been happily pumping away for years and disconnected the inlet pipe from the fuel filter and the pump drew in fuel from a small can rapidly and I could start the car without any trouble and it ran while there was fuel from the can, and stalled once that fuel was used up.
So I am confident the pump and carburretors are fine.
I am now casting a narrowed gaze at the fuel reserve tap and think that more than likely the old corks are the culprits.
I have a rebuilt unit so will check if it is the same and if so swap them over and see if that cures the problem.
So tomorrow evening it is up with the floor boards and out with the spanners and some golf tees to plug the fuel lines while I work on the car.
Stay tuned.
Cheers
Peter Grant

Re: Special Sports Fuel Woes

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 8:13 pm
by Mark Bullen
I had similar problem and changing the cork seals solved it. Not too bad a job to do as someone hadn't put back all the bolts holding the floor in. Hope it goes well for you.

Re: Special Sports Fuel Woes

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 9:16 pm
by Crossley Stephenson
Positive progress then!

You could consider by-passing the fuel tap as a temporary measure.

The corks are readily available from motorcycle repair places that work on old British bikes. I got mine for about $6.

Cheers
Michael