Do mechanical fuel pump's just quit?

This one of the few parts where NOS parts from back in the day are not as good as a modern pump. The old pumps made before the invention of the new fuel die pretty quickly from the new fuel that eats up the old diaphragms. If you do a search you can find companies that make rebuild kits for old vehicles that work with modern fuels. That is why I rebuilt my own with the good diaphragm on my Studebaker engine.

 

Same trick is used by demo derby drivers for refiring a stalled out car running at 240*...

Bob

 

There are several failures that can cause the pump to abruptly quit working. It's not hard to check the fuel pressure and fuel volume being produced by the pump. You might want to do that before just replacing it and hoping it fixes the problem.

Most mechanical pumps will put fuel in the engine oil if the diaphragm fails, so check the oil for fuel dilution/contamination.

 

boy that brings back memories, MY dad was into MGs when I was a kid and we lived in northeastern Ohio, I remember the can of ether on the passenger side floorboard with the tube going through the firewall

 

Years ago, on my race car hauler. Driving on I-75 north. Noticed a wet spot forming on lower right edge of windshield about the same time as I smelled gas.

Pulled over, popped hood and the pump was spraying full pressure, out of the weep hole. Could have been a flamer. Engine had headers, big ignition etc..

 

not a great answer to your question (as I have never had a fuel pump fail) but I am anxious to find out what the issue is with your pump..

after having a number of issues with fuel supply I decided it was time to see what was up with the gas

this is a pic of SOME of the crap that was in my fuel..



i believe this is a direct result of ethanol and OLD fuel lines..
I drained the tank, dropped it, rinsed it and replaced it as well as the in tank pump and two filters..
my new fuel injection rated fuel hoses are (supposed) to be ok for (in all the complete fuel system MAY have 12 inches of rubber)

 

Glad that you posted the above. With todays oils and not having the ZDDP additive wonder if this could start to be a problem ?

 

Back when I had my '32 cabrio with a sbc I drove it to Florida. When I got there I heard a clicking sound and thought sure I'd gotten a lifter problem. Even bought two lifters, but the car kept running, just clicked. When I got back to N.C. I found the fuel pump spring had broken. The broken spring had still allowed the thing to pump gas. Over the course of maybe five years (and three different hot rods), I've gone thru something like 12 fuel pumps, both electric and mechanical.The most embarrasing failure was during the Christmas parade. Had to push the '34 pickup thru to the end of the parade.

 

HRP I'd say you've been very fortunate for this to be your first fuel pump failure. My Dad had one go bad but still ran. Leaked gas into the oil. Changed my first bearings at age 10 because of that.
I had a few on FE's go out while driving. One in town and one in BFE.
Was with a buddy in Daytona when his fuel pump crapped out. He hoofed it to a parts store while I pulled the old pump with nothing but a pair of channellocks.
Got a call from my Dad....truck was dead in the turn lane in front of a parts store on a busy highway in a Chicago 'burb.
Lost fuel pumps on two work trucks.
Also lost an injector pump on a diesel truck and electric pump on my wife's OT Lincoln.
All interesting experiences I hope to not repeat.

 

Yep, older parts are crapping out just because of the "new" gas.

Make sure you check the dipstick for a gas smell HRP, the pan may have gas in it if the diaphragm failed. We don't need a HRP thread on look at what happend to my pan and valve covers when the gas fumes in the crankcase went boom.

 

After reading of everyone's problems I have been extremely lucky to experience this only once in my 62 years.

I am going to get a new fuel pump today.HRP

 

darn...was hopin' you'd rebuild it...

 

Everything breaks,even our bodies,fatalaties are more prevalant with human creations.

 

Larry,,I've called every auto parts place in town and none of them stocks the rebuild kits for the Holley fuel pump but I did find one new Holley fuel pump and they said they could order the kit.

I decided to buy the new pump and order a kit.

Spent about an hour re clocking the bottom of the pump where the fittings would be in the right position and pouring a little gas in the carburetor and spinning the engine over,,about the 5th try the sedan fired off and ran great.

When I get the repair kit and figure out what to do I'll post a how to rebuild a Holley Fuel Pump thread,,for now I'm gonna ride. HRP

 

Glad you got the DEUCE sedan going again.

I have a Holley fuel pump on the DEUCE roadster. It has been there for 18 years. It was a used pump when I installed it. I took it off another O/T project and used it because of the clocking feature. The O/T vehicle did not need that feature.

When I built the DEUCE 3W ... I purchased another new Holley pump for it.
They might both die tonight ... But I have gotten good service out of the Holley fuel pumps.



Most of the Advance, AutoZone and O'Reilys carry the Holley pump in stock. Makes it easy to find a replacement if needed.

.

 

I've had pumps fail. Normally it's a matter of not sealing internally, ie diaphram. Sometimes the drive lever will actually break right off. If that's the case, you're damn lucky it happened in the drive way and not doing 80 down the e way.

Good luck,

Wayne

 

They do when this happens!!