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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Almost at Gaydon when Fuel Pump disaster strikes!

Hi - I got about 15 miles from Gaydon in my Frogeye when the engine died. No fuel coming through!
Got home and have replaced the mechanical pump - still no joy but when I handoperate the pump I get plenty of fuel coming through :( The old one seems to be fine too!

So either the cam that operates the fuel pump lever is broken or the camshaft itself is broken???? Any advice? If it's the former am I safe to just fit a suitable elctric pump or does the engine need opening up to check for nasty bits? Tempted to put fuel into the fuel chambers and see what happens when firing up. Not great end to what was going to be a great day - hope you all had fun though!

Cheers, Mark
m patrick

Since you removed the pump, put your finger in the hole. This will probably tell you that the camshaft is fine. Maybee worn, maybee its the fuel pump lever that is worn.
Spyros

Thanks Spyros, will do. It was my wife driving with my son (I was in the support vehicle :) ten miles behind. NOW she tells me there was a definate clunk of some sort as it cut out. I am now leaning towards timing chain snapping (but I have had a beer or two so getting morbid).
m patrick

Take off the rocker cover (valve cover) and see if all the valves operate when engine is turned by hand.
If no movement remove the timing chain cover.


Mick
Mick Anderson

Thanks everyone for your help. Thought I would post the actual problem now I solved it in case anyone searches later and wants to see resolution.

So wasn't a fuel problem. Actually no spark which I traced back to a shorting rotor arm so a nice cheap £1.75 fix! Still bmused how such a think can short out but hey ho!

Thanks for the tip on turning over the engine by hand to see if all working (and then helpful later to see contacts were opening and closing though you need a friend). Helpful tip to to chock front wheels, jack up one rear wheel only and with the car in 4th gear and handbrake off, turn the lifted road wheel in the direction it would travel when going forward. Turns the engine quite easily.

After being back into spridget ownership now for three weeks after a 15 year break I realised I had forgotten so much about "traditional" technology - now feeling firmly back in the old days and lots is coming flooding back. Plus a good haynes manual and workshop manual helps - plus I wish this BB existed when I first had a midget! Huge help.

Cheers, Mark
m patrick

This thread was discussed between 24/05/2008 and 31/05/2008

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