Fuel pump issues

Rick Leavitt

Rick Leavitt

Member
I went to start my 41 Merc to let her run for a bit and exercise the old flathead and it won't start. There's no fuel getting to carb. So, I ordered a rebuild kit for the pump, when I took the fuel pump apart, I didn't see any damages but I rebuilt it anyways. I'm still not getting fuel to the carb. There's only 41,000 miles on the car so I don't think it's the push rod which looked good. I did add a glass bowl fuel filter a few months ago because there wasn't one on the pump.But that was working fine.
 
Is it a possibility that you run ethanol fuel and IF so then is the rubber fuel line from the firewall to the fuel pump possibly gummed up and blocked as its not one rated for today's ethanol fuel??? ALSO depending on age those can get cracked so make sure its good and solid and didn't get compromised when you loosened it to remove your fuel pump. Second, are you sure all of the fittings are tight and NOT sucking in air?
 
Check gasket on glass bowl, it may have dried out. If you have a rubber line check that to verify its good and not leaking air or collapsed . Blow air back through fuel line to make sure it’s open. Will it start if you squirt some gas in carb?
 
if you want to get energetic, remove the pump with the flex line still on it and hold the pump arm against the engine or stand and pump it by pushing on the pump. If it does not pump gas, start with the sediment bowl and go from there for a leak.
 
marko39 said:
Check gasket on glass bowl, it may have dried out. If you have a rubber line check that to verify its good and not leaking air or collapsed . Blow air back through fuel line to make sure it’s open. Will it start if you squirt some gas in carb?
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Yes, once I put fuel in the carb, she fires right up. I will check the rubber fuel line.
 
rockfla said:
Is it a possibility that you run ethanol fuel and IF so then is the rubber fuel line from the firewall to the fuel pump possibly gummed up and blocked as its not one rated for today's ethanol fuel??? ALSO depending on age those can get cracked so make sure its good and solid and didn't get compromised when you loosened it to remove your fuel pump. Second, are you sure all of the fittings are tight and NOT sucking in air?
Click to expand...


I will tighten everything and double check for leaks
 
jimTN said:
if you want to get energetic, remove the pump with the flex line still on it and hold the pump arm against the engine or stand and pump it by pushing on the pump. If it does not pump gas, start with the sediment bowl and go from there for a leak.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I will check it out.
 
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