Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all,
I have a 2l Aircooled 1983 cu engine petrol camper. Over the past couple of years I've had real trouble starting my van, on average it takes a good 10-15mins of pumping the  accelerator to get him going and in the process I have been through 3 fuel pumps. They leak petrol into the oil. My question is, is this solvable by changing to an electric pump or is there something else I could/should be doing to help him start?
any help is greatly appreciated.

Hi. Check all fuel lines for even the slightest cracking, this could result in fuel being drawn away from the carbs if leaking. Also check any jointing points, undo them and have a proper look. Replace any jubilee clips for proper fuel clamps. This too can result in fuel evaporating and/or the fuel pump drawing more air than petrol. I had a crack at a joint pre pump and mine took ages to finally start too, without removing it you would never tell.

Hello,
From your post these are the same problems you had 2 years ago...

The engine should start easily even if it is disconnected from the fuel supply and run for a minute or so before draining the fuel bowls.
Remove the air cleaners and observe a squirt of petrol from the accelerator jet when the throttle is opened.
Check that the shut off solenoids work, check that the accelerator pump diaphragms are not punctured..

Are you still on a campsite...

 I return home from Argentina at the end of March.

If you can make it over here, I can have a look at it for you...

This will give you an idea...



Air-Cooled Bliss...



 

Could you clarify the issue? 10-15 minutes pumping the throttle to get it going. Is that to get it to fire, or to get it running smoothly? Could it be that you are pumping so much fuel into the cylinders that it is washing past the piston rings into the crankcase?

Hi sarran, 

Wow Argentina, bet that's a nice adventure.

Yep having the same old problems. Hasn't really been run properly over the winter and having lay dormant for a few months am having these issues. Not able to even get my van started let alone drive it across to you unfortunately. As I said after trying to get him to fire up for about 15mins I now have petrol in my oil which obviously isn't great and some fuel under the crankcase and around the fuel pump.

Will take a look at the video you kindly posted and see if it helps.

Great weather here at the moment but a bit of rain on the way tomorrow

Thanks for the reply Rosie n jim.

The 10-15mins of pumping is just to Harvey's engine to catch and fire up. Maybe I am overdoing it but my van has always needed a bit of priming to get it started but has devastatingly worse over time. Even if I drive it one day the next day it can still take a while to fire up. The fuel pump was changed only last year and I fitted new fuel hoses. Didn't know you could over pump the fuel.

Try a non return valve in the fuel line by the inlet to the pump.