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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 fuel pump fix

Hi everyone,
I have recently changed the mechanical fuel lift pump in the 1500 midget and thought I would share my findings.

So, to start with, the engine number is not readable and the old pump that was dead was the straight arm type and fitted up to the block with a thin paper gasket, (with no spacer which apparently is correct for this pump).

The pump lobe on the cam is fine.

So, I purchased a straight arm type pump from a reputable Midget specialist and fitted it with a thin paper gasket just as the old one was.

It didn't work.

But it did work when I removed it and operated the arm manually.

So, I thought about it and decided that it was sitting in the wrong place relative to the camshaft.

Rather than just use a normal spacer which is around 14mm thick, I decided to work out what thickness spacer I needed so I put 4 washers on each stud and then fitted the pump and varied the amount of washers until I was happy with the pumps operation and simply made a spacer the same thickness as the washers.

Obviously you don't want to run it like that for more than a few minutes as you will get oil everywhere but having read the amount of posts and comments about fuel pump spacers I thought it was worth mentioning.

Cheers.

Skelly.
Jon Skelly

What thickness did you end up with?
Dave O'Neill 2

I ended up with a 6mm spacer.
Jon Skelly

Skelly,
thanks for providing the information for others.

It does leave me a bit confused though (not difficult).

If the standard spacer is 14mm and yours is 6mm it suggests a few possibilities, so, which part number pump did you get?
Nigel Atkins

Hi Nigel,

Yes, you are quite correct.
The original spacer is 14mm but 'apparently' it is only used with the pump with the curved arm, my pump has the straight arm which 'apparently' only has a paper gasket between the pump and the block.

As far as I am awre, there are only 2 pumps available, I'm not sure what the part number is but I asked for the right one to replace what came out and I got it from a reputable midget place that do alot of competition work too so I think they are pretty trustworthy as they have a good rep.

I think its quite strange too, unless my info is wrong and the straight arm pump should have a spacer ?

Anyhow, it was an interesting experiment to be able to space the pump out in stages and monitor the effects.

Cheers.
Skelly.

Jon Skelly

Hi Skelly,
thanks for your reply, obviously I've no idea about your engine (and next to no idea about Midget 1500s) but as our cars for many reasons often have different components and parts than factory original, not even the rust is original on mine, I wonder about your pump situation.

My concern is as this trader puts it - "Please take care when fitting - it's easy to position the lever under the camshaft instead of on top of it, in which case the pump will work for a while before the lever snaps off." -
http://www.classicpartstrader.co.uk/brand-new-triumph-spitfire-iv--spitfire-1500-plus-dolomite-1300--dolomite-1500-fuel-pump-rkc1624-147-p.asp

I wondered about the lengths of your studs too, I've got some on my engine which are too short for proper factory fixing of parts.

According to Moss the straight lever pump RKC1624 was used up until (Midget) engine number FP50967, (though many Midget 1500s now have engines of Triumph vehicle origin with perhaps a different prefix).

The later used curved lever pump TKC3417, from engine number FP50968 according to Moss, uses the variously described 1/2" or 13mm spacer block UKC8523.

The spacer was on Spitfire 1500 engine FM93158 on (and on TR7, all from mid-77 according to following).
http://www.sportsandclassics.com/parts/oem-original-parts/triumph-original-parts/ukc8523-fuel-pump-spacer-midget-spitfire-tr7/
Nigel Atkins

"Please take care when fitting - it's easy to position the lever under the camshaft instead of on top of it, in which case the pump will work for a while before the lever snaps off"

Or... you install it wrong (to this day, I don't know how I managed to...) and the lever is fine, but it cuts a massive gouge in your camshaft! FFS!

That was the day I converted to an electric pump! :-D

Malc.
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Malc,
you lucky, lucky ******* getting a lever so robust.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5i1cJIwE7M
Nigel Atkins

All interesting comments.

I definately had the arm on the correct side of the cam, I was very careful to check that.

I have put a few miles on it now and it all seems good so I guess I'l stick with it, I did have to fit longer studs to accomodate the spacer though.

Cheers.
Skelly.
Jon Skelly

This thread was discussed between 07/06/2020 and 15/06/2020

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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