intermittant petrol pump?

[ermie571]

ok... running on LPG with the occassional use of petrol.

A couple of months ago when I ran out of gas, I switched to petrol...drove fine for a couple of miles, then conked out on me. Enough gas to limp to the petrol station, and two lovely chaps pushed me the last 100yrds.

fillled with gas...and away we went.

so - next time I went to petrol, it was with some trepidation....but no problems. (can't remember how far I have driven on it though)

Then - last night, ran out of gas on way to gas station, switched to petrol fine...ran for about a mile or so....then cut out on me. Got some fresh petrol, but didn't like that either. Even pulled the lpg/petrol tap at the solenoid to the full petrol position in case the solenoid had failed. So, got recovery to tug me to the gas station, filled up and away we went. Oh - forgot to say, with easy start in the carb it fired straight away....but didn't run.

Drove away as usual...then lumpy, no power, then ok, then lumpy.....Felt like it was running on both LPG and Petrol (had this before years ago)...so, parked by the side of the road, switched to the middle position...no change in revs. (normally picks up)...so switched it to petrol. And it sat there and ran fine. So petrol pump now working again?? switched it back to the middle position (no fuel at all) and it ran as normal, until suddenly dying. So now its got no petrol in the carb. Just to check, wouldn't restart with switch in middle position.

Put it to gas....started fine....then the lumpy stuff again. So while it was running (just), I adjusted the tap position...it went back a little further....then suddenly the revs picked up, and it sounded better. Picked up in first....so hopefully it will run ok this morning.

So - what is making the petrol pump work intermittently?

I have a replacement pump in the house (somewhere!) so that should be an easy fix (haha) and I also have a spare needle.

Does anyone think it could be the solenoid (I don't think so as it started on easy start and there was no smell of petrol in the engine bay despite continued cranking)

Mocki has suggested that I fit an electric fuel pump and replace the switch over solenoid. So how does this work? How do you switch to petrol without a solenoid?

thanks for reading

cheers

Em
xx

[Mocki]

Throw the solenoid switchover away and simply replace with a 30amp auto relay controlling a electric pump
No more cranking to run on the idiot fuel
And the pump only runs when you need it not running constantly dry and no nasty switchover failures

[ermie571]

So to be totally clear

1. the switch up front stays
2. The switch turns on the electric fuel pump
3. The fuel pump doesn't dry out or seize from lack of use


auto relay has 4 termimals -
1. to earth
2. 12v in
3. 12v to pump
4. trigger wire (the one currently on solenoid - but which one, there are 2 from memory)

Where do I get a 30a supply from?

Now - the really stupid questions....

I guess the solenoid is somehow "plumbed" into the fuel line. The fuel pump simply sits in the fuel line where the solenoid was?
then - remove the old pump or leave it there? If I remove it, what do I use to cover the mount?

Thanks - if you have a picture, that would be brilliant!

Em
xx

[Ian Hulley]

If I remove it, what do I use to cover the mount?

Emm your 2.1's had blanking plates on them before you fitted the manual petrol pumps. If need be make one out of steel shaped like the base gasket of the fuel pump but without the centre hole.

Ian x

[ermie571]

hey Ian!

didn't think of that


ok...seems like I have a plan

Em
xx

[Mocki]

Ok
There are two wires on your switchover solenoid, they are +12vdc from cab switch and -12vdc .
All you need to add is a 10amp (fused)feed to the relay in and a feed down to the pump which you will mount on the inner sill nexto and slightly after the fuel filter , the pump will need a chassis neg connection also

And yes a blanking plate for the mechanical pump and new bit of fuel,pipe from the balk head join to the carb .

I can do a diagram whence I am near a pc and not a phone

[ermie571]

Thankyou!

xx