Club 80-90 Forums

So after the starter motor just clicking and not cranking (https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=44530" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) I go show my Son the Van, and out of interest turn the it over, Yep you got it , the ruddy thing cranks like a good un..
so i go get another 5l of fuel to make sure i have enough in the tank as its on a slight downslope. I try to crank but still no start, I pop off the air filter pipework, glup a capfull of fuel own each carb and sure enough it coughs and splutters, tries to run. At least i know its fuel.
Out of interest i pop off the fuel filter (tank side pipe) and to my amazment NO petrol at all is coming out of the tank, SO my question is excalty how flat are these tanks and can a slight slope, less that 5 degress have such an impact. I even jacked up the front nearside of the van and stil got no peterol out of the tank. No wonder the bugger wont run. Can i ram ( i mean gently push) a gas welding rod into the tank to make surer there are no blockages. or does the van have to be on the flat and the front jacked up to get petrol out of the tank. I am most confused

Not 100% sure but could there be a vacuum effect that stops the fuel from running out when disconnected ??
Clamp the pipe and take the fuel filler cap off then un-clamp the pipe and see if it runs out using a suitable container to catch the fuel ....

Could be your fuel pump pushrod worn down & starving the carbs of enough fuel...

These tanks rot and it could be that. Blocked pipe? filter?

Might be the fuel outlet blocked, Remove the fuel filler cap and try blowing into the tank outlet with a foot pump or bicycle pump.

bigherb wrote:Might be the fuel outlet blocked, Remove the fuel filler cap and try blowing into the tank outlet with a foot pump or bicycle pump.

This is the most likely problem. There is an internal strainer in the bottom of the fuel tank so pushing a piece of wire up the outlet pipe won't do any good. Foot pump or bicycle pump are good ideas. Alternatively a 12v electric tyre compressor attached to a length of plastic tubing with the other end up the tank outlet. Remove the fuel filler cap before doing this so you can hear when air starts to gurgle into the fuel tank.

The actual problem is likely to be crud or rust in the bottom of the tank. To cure the rust problem, Mocki suggests placing a small, strong magnet on the bottom of the tank to attract the rust flakes away from the outlet strainer. Mocki's not as daft as he looks!

Grand Ideas gents thanks a lot i will try tomorrow afternoon when i get up, I have a few big magnets at work i will percure one on a temperary basis