Fuel Pumps Manual or Electronic ?

PostPost by: Geoffers71 » Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:41 pm

pharriso wrote:So you power your pump to prime your carbs, then switch it off. Then you start the engine... can the mechanical pump suck fuel through this electric pump?

To be honest Phil I'm not sure, but I can blow through it so I'm assuming there'll be no problem. And Alan and Quart Meg seem to confirm that it will work OK. Thanks to you all for your helpful confirmations. :wink:
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PostPost by: RedBarnMan » Sat Apr 22, 2017 9:50 pm

When my +2 has not been used over winter I take the spark plugs out and give the car a run on the starter. That gets oil pressure up and circulating and primes the carbs. Plugs back in and it usually starts easily when I remember the choke/pump sequence needed for Dellorto's
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PostPost by: Geoffers71 » Sat Apr 22, 2017 10:16 pm

To update my dilemma about mech /electric pump, I've fitted the cheapo electric pump shown above just as an initial primer, not a permanent electrical pump. It works perfectly. As suggested by Meg I connected + to earth and a - wire that can be touched to the neg side of the battery for as long as it takes to prime the carbs. Just 10 secs or so and the car is ready to start. Solves my starting problems straight away and the car behaves as normal afterwards. Brilliant.
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PostPost by: Grizzly » Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:24 am

So do the guys with electric fuel pumps prime the oil system if it's been stood long enough for the fuel to evaporate from the carbs? or do hope there is enough residual oil, start it and let the engine idle to build up oil pressure??

I deal allot with old cars and i always want to see oil pressure before i attempt to start the car..... usually means cranking it with the HT lead off.....
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PostPost by: vincereynard » Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:45 pm

Grizzly wrote:I deal allot with old cars and i always want to see oil pressure before i attempt to start the car..... usually means cranking it with the HT lead off.....


Same here, although I also take the plugs out to ease the starter's workload (and it spins faster). After seeing pressure, plugs in and off you go. It only takes an extra minute. (although I do wonder if it will effect the electronic ignition bits.)

So I might consider a starter solenoid with a manual button! Something like -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110710879392

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PostPost by: Grizzly » Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:52 pm

vincereynard wrote:What could be useful is a starter solenoid with a manual button!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110710879392

Vince

Aren't they standard on pre Sprint Elans?

Yes you are quite correct Plugs out does help also prevents it getting flooded.
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PostPost by: saildrive2001 » Sun Apr 23, 2017 11:13 pm

I always disconnect the Petronix when I take the plugs out & turn the engine over. Just a precaution.
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PostPost by: crannyr » Mon Apr 24, 2017 4:29 pm

For what its worth in 20 years of racing I can't remember a car that ran on a mechanical pump if an electric was permitted under the rules. This in a sport where reliability was paramount. Secondly, if either a mechanical or an electric were to fail, then an electric would be a whole lot easier to replace in the field than the mechanical on a twink. If in doubt carry a spare.
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PostPost by: vincereynard » Mon Apr 24, 2017 4:51 pm

If I were to go electric it would be wired through a isolator switch to ensure the carbs. could be emptied of fuel to save the fuel smell in the garage.
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PostPost by: Quart Meg Miles » Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:59 pm

vincereynard wrote:If I were to go electric it would be wired through a isolator switch to ensure the carbs. could be emptied of fuel to save the fuel smell in the garage.

But you've got a +2; the fuel smell comes from the tank breathers, unless you've stuffed something in them!
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PostPost by: prezoom » Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:14 pm

Probably the answer for the earlier Plus2s would be to add the second chamber for overflow like the later cars. Wouldn't have to be exactly like the later tank, but if done correctly, and used with a charcoal filter, the smell would no longer be present. It would also eliminate the fuel slosh through the filler cap on right hand turns.
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PostPost by: Grizzly » Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:44 pm

crannyr wrote:For what its worth in 20 years of racing I can't remember a car that ran on a mechanical pump if an electric was permitted under the rules. This in a sport where reliability was paramount. Secondly, if either a mechanical or an electric were to fail, then an electric would be a whole lot easier to replace in the field than the mechanical on a twink. If in doubt carry a spare.

Really? I know racers that use EFI that need an Electric fuel pump but i know Drag racers who use Mechanical because they can be stripped and inspected.
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PostPost by: vincereynard » Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:48 pm

Quart Meg Miles wrote:
vincereynard wrote:If I were to go electric it would be wired through a isolator switch to ensure the carbs. could be emptied of fuel to save the fuel smell in the garage.

But you've got a +2; the fuel smell comes from the tank breathers, unless you've stuffed something in them!


It has a posh sealed filler cap and a modified breather system that was "supposed" to cure it. What makes me suspect the carbs. is that the pong goes away after a week or so when, presumably, the carbs have emptied. Whereas the contents of the tank has remained the same.

A good step would be to move the tank filler to the middle! :D No breather probs, no leaking filler.

screenshot-from-2017-04-24-22-46-36.png and
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PostPost by: Grizzly » Tue Apr 25, 2017 11:50 am

Just out of curiosity, how do those with electric pumps run the pressure regulator? do you use a non return set up and put the regulator in the boot or run a return line back front the front of the car?
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PostPost by: Foxie » Tue Apr 25, 2017 1:37 pm

The main reason I changed to electric pump around 30 years ago was because when I had roadside engine problems in my first years of ownership, I found that to check the pump, the engine had to be running, and to check the engine the pump had to be running. A real chicken and egg situation.

I bought TWO Facet pumps, as I had been told that they were unreliable.

Thirty years later, the first pump is running away merrily, never had a problem.

The second Facet pump is still in its box :)
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