Re: Tim's '55 Patrician
Posted by Tim Wile On 2012/1/6 18:33:46
The temperature reached the 50s today and I took advantage of the mild weather to do some more work on the Patrician. I think I got the mechanical brake problem solved in that the rear brake drum now fits on by hand and moves, so that it progress. Now, just to finish adjusting the other three wheels, replace one more brake line, and then add the brake fluid, bleed and test the brakes. I love when a plan comes together!
I also managed to get some work done on the fuel system. I had dropped the fuel tank to check out its condition several months ago and was pleased to see that the tank was in fine condition. The tank was re-installed this afternoon and the fuel line re-connected to the tank. I also put in a new fuel filter in the line going from the tank to the electric supplemental fuel pump and re-connected the mechanical fuel pump to the electrical one.
Cool, I thought. I would get the engine running initially with starter fluid and wait until it ran enough to pull fuel from the tank and run from the tank. Well, after a number of starts and a half a can of starter fluid, I still could not see any fuel in the filter coming from the fuel line to the electric fuel pump. I know that the problem is not the mechanical fuel pump since it ran from a plastic bottle when it was disconnected from the fuel tank. I suspect that the electric fuel pump isn't doing its job and blocking the other pump from drawing fuel from the tank. Yes, before anyone asks, there is fuel in the tank. I also checked the wiring on the electric fuel pump and it appears properly connected and there are no blown fuses in the fuse block.
Considering that I know that the mechanical fuel pump works, I was thinking of simply by-passing the electrical one and running solely off of the mechanical fuel pump. The other explanation is that I haven't tried the engine enough times to draw fuel from the tank up to the the fuel pumps . . . that thought has crossed my mind. I'll probably give it another half-dozen attempts over the weekend before I reconfigure the system to by-pass the electric fuel pump.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to test the electric fuel pump?? I'm assuming that a previous owner installed it for a reason . . . giving that prior owner the benefit of the doubt.
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