Gord Wedman

Well-Known Member
We are trying to get our 1960 bitsa running again and cannot get any fuel flow. Engine is a Series 3, 2.5 gas. New pump draws nothing from tank. Tank has fuel and lines are clear. Seems the engine is not activating the pump lever. Can this happen? It was driven to us originally. Just wondering if fitting is more complicated than it appears.
Thanks for any help.
Gordon
 
We are trying to get our 1960 bitsa running again and cannot get any fuel flow. Engine is a Series 3, 2.5 gas. New pump draws nothing from tank. Tank has fuel and lines are clear. Seems the engine is not activating the pump lever. Can this happen? It was driven to us originally. Just wondering if fitting is more complicated than it appears.
Thanks for any help.
Gordon
I am more familiar with the diesel engines than the petrol, but I believe that there are different lift pumps available depending on weather it is a diesel or a petrol (but happy to be corrected by someone more knowledgeable). do you definitely have the correct lift pump for the petrol rather than the diesel variant?

It is also possible to misfit the lift pump by getting the actuating lever the wrong side of the cam shaft. The actuating lever should sit on top of the cam lobe so that as the cam rotated the lever is moved up and down. This required the pump to be "hooked" into position from the top of the hole, rather than just slotted into place. If the actuating lever sits below the cam shaft it will not move correctly as the cam rotates.
 
Have a look at this, it's Series 3 pump, but the jist remains the same :

 
If you got a new pump there should probably be a spacer with it in the box. you might need this to get the lever to sit on the cam properly.
 
Not sure if there is a difference but the new pump could be for a diesel and i think the arm on the pump that runs on the camshaft id different as in the angle of the arm and not pumping fuel through, just a thought :)
 
Not sure if there is a difference but the new pump could be for a diesel and i think the arm on the pump that runs on the camshaft id different as in the angle of the arm and not pumping fuel through, just a thought :)
I think they are the same but you're right in that new pumps can have a different angle on the shaft hence the spacer in the new pump kit.
 
I think they are the same but you're right in that new pumps can have a different angle on the shaft hence the spacer in the new pump kit.
spacer is for early engines when using long arm later pump,early engines have a flat steel plate pump bolts to,later engines have aluminum cast plate with a raised boss pump bolts to
 
Thanks for the replies. We are still stumped. New pump works on bench and generates good vacuum but does nothing one engine. We have a large flat plate on the engine with two studs for the pump. New pump looks very similar to old in terms of lever arm.
I watched the video and he just shows how to open up the pump. He does not show how to remove the diaphragm or how to reinstall it. I took the old pump apart and now can't seem to get the diaphragm to lock back into place. Think I will go back and give him a thumbs down.
On another issue our solenoid only runs the starter half the time when key is turned. Cleaned and tightened all connections and added direct ground wire to battery. Think I might use a Ford solenoid....
 
Thanks for the replies. We are still stumped. New pump works on bench and generates good vacuum but does nothing one engine. We have a large flat plate on the engine with two studs for the pump. New pump looks very similar to old in terms of lever arm.
I watched the video and he just shows how to open up the pump. He does not show how to remove the diaphragm or how to reinstall it. I took the old pump apart and now can't seem to get the diaphragm to lock back into place. Think I will go back and give him a thumbs down.
On another issue our solenoid only runs the starter half the time when key is turned. Cleaned and tightened all connections and added direct ground wire to battery. Think I might use a Ford solenoid....

If you are not sure what you are doing, you may end up causing more harm ...

Time to look at getting a mechanic to look at it ...
 
Like what? I have been working on my cars for 50 years and don't think installing a new fuel pump is likely to do any damage. We didnt buy this to have mechanics work on it.
 
Are you sure the pump isn't doing anything on the engine. Has similar problem on mine and had to blow through the fuel lines and replace the in line fuel filter as they were blocked. Hadn't been running for two years.
 
Line are all clear. Blew air through them. Pump does not fill sediment bowl. We have two tanks with a valve to select them. We are going to put gas in the second tank to see if this is necessary. Doesn't seem likely as that would suggest the second tank would not work if you ran out on the first.
I did get the old pump back together. Obvious as to what you should do but difficult to execute. May take the top off the new pump while bottom is bolted to engine to see if diaphragm moves when engine is cranked.
 
Take the outlet line off and then get someone to crank the engine with your finger over the outlet feeling for pressure.
 
Can you put some clear tube from pump to gas can and see if it pulls fuel up
Re the video it=sounded like the fitting of it is on another video
 
I take it you now have the techique of pushing the diaphram down just the right amount (trial and error) and turning it. Can you connect the pump to the fuel lines with it away from teh block and move the cam follewer leaver with your hand? This should settle where the problem is.
 
Thanks for all the replies. This forum is a lot more active than others. Good reading for us staying at home.
We finally got it running and I am not sure what the problem was. We connected the pump inlet to a hose and let that into a container of gas at ground level and cranked the engine. This seemed to prime the pump and eventually got the engine running. Maybe there was just too much air in the lines to the tanks? We have a large clear fuel filter at carb and it is interesting how small the spurts of fuel are going into it. I can see it would take a long time to suck gas all the way from a rear tank using the hand priming pump. Our tanks are under the seats but it still seemed unable to do the job. I recall trying to use one of these hand priming pumps on my boat and getting a large blister on a finger.
Engine runs very well. Got the lights working and starter solenoid is behaving OK. The wiring is sure a mess. Will think about re-doing it.

Now if we could get the front doors to close easily with window frames in place.
 

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