Fuel Filter Question

jagnweiner

jagnweiner

Senior Member
My 59AB has a mechanical fuel pump with sediment bowl. (It also has a switchable electric pump which I haven't had need to use). When I first got it a few months ago, I had problems with deteriorating fuel line junk filling the sediment bowl and clogging the carb. Cleaning out the bowl and the carb seems to have solved that problem, but I figured it might make sense to have a fuel filter, so I ordered one.

Questions: the pump had a screen and gasket. I ordered a new screen and gasket as well. If I put the filter in, is it in lieu of the screen, or does the screen go in as well? The filter came with a spring, but the sediment bowl has a lip that would hold the filter in place. Do I still use the spring? Finally, if the pump didn't have a filter on it, is there a problem with adding one?

Thanks in advance.
 
I'd leave the screen in. It and the sediment bowl will filter out the coarse stuff. And you can see if you have a problem with crud in the tank or fuel line. Put the inline filter between the pump and the carb.

That's what I have in my 59ab.
 
Thanks. Just realized that I forgot to add the picture of the different options, although it doesn't really affect the answer.
 

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My '50 had a ceramic filter in the sediment bowl, after the kids across the street put sand in my tank( this was in 1967 ), I had the tank steamed cleaned. I added another glass sediment bowl with filter after the pump but before the carb, I would get some sand in the first filter but not second one.
 
Remove the screen, when installing the paper filter it is like have both a belt and suspenders on. Beside the paper filter is much better at filtering than the screen. The fuel will enter the center of the filter and through the filter, fill the glass bowl and then travel to the Carb. through the small holes in the perimeter of the top of the filter. The filter has to fit tightly on the center input port and with the screen in place it may prevent the input port from full entry into the filter. The spring fits in the bottom of the glass bowl and pushes up on the bottom of the paper filter. This assures it does not come off the input port. Yes use the gasket but make sure it does not block the small holes that allow fuel to go to the Carb. Once the paper filter is on and soaking in fuel for a while the rigid paper of the filter is not so rigid any more.
 
Thanks, Terry. That perfectly answers my questions about function of the filter, including the importance of the spring. I'll give it a try.
 
Hi Scott, You mentioned that you had a "switchable" electric fuel pump also. My question is...Is it the Airtex inline style with the fuel filter incorporated just before the pump? Or, Are you using an electric fuel pump without the filter before it? I like the Airtex style (E8902 6v) with the filter. I also use my mechanical pump mostly and the electric pump for priming and vapor lock situations. When using the mechanical pump only, the fuel is filtered as well.

Pat
 
Pat,

The electric pump was installed by a PO and does not have a filter. I haven't really had to use the electric pump, but I also haven't had to deal with vapor lock, since I haven't driven it in the summer yet. I'm assuming that's why it was originally installed.
 
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