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MG MGA - The S U pump question

Here is my two bobs worth. Fatigue due to old age cannot be overcome. Either with the mechanics , my A had a broken points bridge, or the field strength of the pump body. Fit a new electronic S U. $230 Aus. from Midel.. Are there different variates of S U' s ?
My '50s Riley has to draw the fuel a long way and the last meter is from chassis level to high on the fire wall. A pump rebuild with an electronic conversion (from Oliver ?) last year would not draw the fuel up. He was very concerned and perservered to get it right. My understanding now is that maybe there are differences in apparently simular pumps. He has modified his test equippment to place this extra work load on his repairs.. The pump now is totatly reliable. On his advice I also carry a spare, nothing can be totatly reliable.. Sean
S Sherry

Sean - The Riley, with fuel pump in the engine compartment, uses a low pressure pump (1.5 psi), while as the MGA uses a high pressure pump (2.7 or 3.8 psi). The low pressure and high pressure pumps in these two cars look the same and one has to look at the volute spring and the coil core to determine which is which. The problem that was experienced with the Riley pumps is that the original low pressure pumps used a somewhat weaker coil in it, making it problematic when repaired. Since about 1985, the low pressure pumps were manufactured with the same coil as the high pressure pumps use, giving it a better operating parameter. I have been replacing all the coils in the early low pressure pumps that I restore and this has eliminated the problem that Tony Oliver ran into with your low pressure pump for the Riley. The problem with my approach of course is finding donor high pressure pumps to canabalize the coils from. I was fortunate enough to find a source for these coils (at least for awhile). Since I was the one who got Tony interested in repairing the pumps, he an I have collaborated for the past several years (I believe that he asked me about about the problem with your pump when he was trying to resolve it.

"On his advice I also carry a spare, nothing can be totatly reliable."

That is a wise move. Any electric or electronic fuel pump is an electromechanical device that can fail for any reason at any time (I made a very good living troubleshooting and repairing the weapons systems on Naval ships for 40 years and it always amazed me how things could fail for absolutely no reason whatsoever). Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Thanks Dave, your imformation will save a lot of heart aches. Yes, Tony addressed my problem professionally having the honosty to admit that he did not know and has now redesigned his test rig...Sean
S Sherry

This thread was discussed between 24/08/2010 and 25/08/2010

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