Mechanical fuel pump.

[Wingit100]

Hi there my rebuilt engine is in and ready to go but I've been scuppered by the fuel pump. It would seem that I have lost one of the brass inlet/outlet tubes. I can see the smooth port but no brass tube/nipple to refit new fuel pipes to. My question is two fold, can you get replacements or make new tubes? Where is best to get a replacement for the pump? This is for a 2.0 Aircooled. I have been killing myself to get this van up and running to get away but can't even start the engine. Crazy.

Many thanks.

[CovKid]

Answered this in other thread but I believe the 2.0 pump is obsolete now and even if you could source one, you can bet its £50+ or something as the demand is too low. Fit the Facet one and all will be well. You can seal inlet/outlets of old pump and leave it where it is as a blanking plate. You can buy blanks but if pushrod is removed and pipes sealed (fill them up with metal repair putty if you like), I wouldn't bother.

[Wingit100]

Thankyou Covkid I have managed to find a fix for now and seems to work. Found a pneumatic pipe specialist who measured pump and gave me a short section of pipe which pressed in quite snugly.
I will definitely look further into the facet when time cash allows as my drive is on a slope and the fuel really struggles to make its way to carbs if sat for any length of time.
Cheers

[CovKid]

Once you get to the stage when you're having to pour fuel down carb throats just to get it going each time, you know its time to sort the pump. Its just not fun when windows/locks are frozen up and you're crunching around in snow. You can mitigate it slightly by starting and running the engine regularly but you forget after a while and it'll always be the day when you have to get somewhere quickly when it won't run.

[GrahamLydney]

Hi, just seen your posts. My mechanical fuel pump is not needed as I have an electrical one fitted. I did read about filling inlet/outlet pipes, but it seems a pity to spoil an original pump! Does anyone know where I can find a suitable blanking plate? Looks like it needs to be the same shape as the old gasket? Thanks, Graham

[Oldiebut goodie]

Just run a hose from inlet to outlet - no need to plug at all and it is still usable afterwards. That's what I do if I have to sandblast Webasto pumps. You will still have to keep the pushrod safe for possible future use somewhere - like the glove box.

[CovKid]

I'm yet to pluck up the courage to tell the pump that its been hammering away for three months and not actually doing anything. As oldie says you can run a pipe between the two with the pushrod removed. A new gasket can be made from gasket paper (or at a push, a cornflakes packet if you don't have any). Not worth replacing with a blanking plate really, who knows you might have to fit a mech one in a dire emergency.

Despite the noise of the pump initially, going electric cured a whole load of running probs I used to have.

[Oldiebut goodie]

I'm yet to pluck up the courage to tell the wife that its been hammering away for three months and not actually doing anything.

Fixed that for you!

[CovKid]

thats why I don't have a wife.

[tonytech]

Thankyou Covkid I have managed to find a fix for now and seems to work. Found a pneumatic pipe specialist who measured pump and gave me a short section of pipe which pressed in quite snugly.

Cheers

Sorry if I'm not reading this correctly but...
"a piece of pipe that fits quite snugly" carrying petrol??!
Are you so desperate to save a few quid you will risk it vibrating loose to spray petrol over your nice new engine.....

T

[CovKid]

Agree with Tony. ALL fuel lines must be up to the job and securely fixed. The risk of fire cannot be overstated or underestimated. Mind you. that was a couple of months ago, so who knows what has happened since.

[Wingit100]

Hello Tony and Covkid, just noticed your posts was surprised it's had further since August. I do appreciate what your saying Tony. The part fitted is a replacement for the original copper/brass very short section of pipe which goes from the fuel pump and allows correct rubber fuel pipe to fit over this. It seems that the original item was push fit as it's very snug and secure, the replacement is the same and was thread locked in. So far it's fine. I will try and get electric pump fitted over the winter either way.

[CovKid]

Nothing wrong with a mech one providing its in good order. They are simple and normally very reliable. The downside to an electric one is the line is then under pressure between pump and carb so the connections have to be absolutely sealed and up to the job. The risk associated with a leak are that much greater. On the upside, it does remove the dry-line issue you can sometimes get with a mech pump which has to suck the fuel through - particularly if you actually run out of fuel. On a vehicle that has constant fueling probs or the mech pump is hard to source, its usually better (and often cheaper) to go electric.

I've yet to fit a push-to-make overide switch on my electric one. I have a lazy alternator and as mine is powered by that, if I don't rev it on startup to extinguish the charging light, it'll run out of fuel. I keep a length of wire in the cab which i have to connect between battery and pump to get the fuel through then - not ideal on say a roundabout Having done it twice, I don't forget to rev it now!