White residue on Model B fuel pump

jim1932

Well-known member
Any idea what this white stuff is? Won’t clean off.
 

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It will clean off. Disassemble it down to the castings and dip them in metal prep briefly. Only briefly as the metal prep will eventually attack the zinc as well as the white zinc oxide that you are trying to remove.
 
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I'm not familiar with POR 15, sorry. I use metal prep (phosphoric acid) and yes, rinse with water and dry thoroughly with a hair dryer or air hose.
 
Thanks, Related question. The parts book only show one petcock, 9185 to be used across fuel pumps. I thought I saw somewhere that there was an early and late on a 32 B pump. Asking because I have one pump where the petcock bottoms out on the spring before sealing. It doesn't do it on a different pump. Is it a bad seat? (FYI, it is not this pump that has the issue)
 

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Jim,

There were two different pet ***** used on '32 fuel pumps matching differences in the pump bodies. The early version is hollow and has holes in the tapered end of the pet **** to permit the pump to be drained without completely removing the pet **** from the fuel pump body. That pet **** version is used with fuel pumps that have no drain hole in the pump body.

The second version of the pet **** is solid and a drain hole was added to the pump body at the same time. The two pet **** versions are the same size overall and can be used interchangeably except if the second version is used on a early pump without a drain hole in the pump body, the pet **** must be removed completely in order to drain the pump.

So, in answer to your question, I'd pull the drain **** from the pump and inspect the seat in the pump body for excess wear and if it looks okay, do as Terry recommends. If the drain **** seats without the spring, perhaps the spring is too long and not the right one for that application.
 
Interesting, did some experimenting, I happen to have 4 pumps plus an extra main body. They all look identical and have the later side hole. The same same petcock, fits 3 without bottoming out on the spring, but bottoms out in the other two. These are the two I have had the longest and been frustrated with leaks. I guess I found my issue. Next experiment will be to take the spring off and see if they leak. I know I need a spring, but if they don't leak without the spring, I can maybe get a slightly shorter spring.
 
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