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MG MGB Technical - Petrol leak

I am looking for tips on curing a petrol leak. The leak is frim the union where the fuel line from the tanks feeds the pump. The pipe from the tank to the pump is new and I have renewed the two fibre washer. I have cleaned the union. I think the leak is fom the joint where the fuel pipe is connected to the union. Hwever as petrol creeps everywhere it is difficult to be 100% sure. I took it all apart and cleaned every thing reassemble it and switched on the ignition. The joints remained dry so I though that I had cracked it. However after a short run round the block back into the gargae and it was leaking like a sieve. Any tips on curing this problem. If not my next step will be to renew the union and bolt. Peter
Peter Scott

Peter
I know this isn't solving your leak problem. But I always move MGB fuel pumps from the rediculous position that they are in to the ledge at the rear of the spare wheel compartment, it makes them much easier to work on if you have to. I cut the metal pipes and connect them up with neoprene tubing. Obviously this entails drilling a couple of holes through the ledge for the pipes to go through, but if you use tight fitting grommets no water can get into the spare wheel compartment and of course it protects the pipes from chafing.Whilst on the subject of leaks, MGB fuel tanks are notorious for rusting out on top, they usually get pin holes in them. This can be rectified by painting with a thick coat of fibreglass resin.

Harry Walker
H.E.W. Walker

Having the pump in a position lower than the fuel tank ensures that the pump is kept primed. And a wellprimed pump is a happy, long lived pump. I beleive that there is a limit to the amount of suction head that the pump can develop, but aparently mounting it 6 inches or so higher is not a problem.
However, I would avoid routing fuel into the boot for safety reasons. I know that this was done on the later cars, and older Jaguars (for example) have pump(s) hidden away in the boot, but those are pretty well protected from damage by shielding of one sort or another.
Peter: I hate to suggest this, but perhaps your replacement hose is bad. Try reusing the old one as a test.
Andy Blackley

Andy
Thanks for your suggestion I cannot make any tests this week-end as we have visitors. However I will certainly check the new fuel pipe next week sometime. It is amazing that you need some other guy to suggest the obvious. ie suspect the bit you changed. The other amazing thing is the number of helpful suggestions I get from Ohio. Having worked for the Timken Company for 30 plus years, I have visited Ohio many times. I saw a few B's not not that many. Peter
Peter Scott

"Having the pump in a position lower than the fuel tank ensures that the pump is kept primed"

Rubber bumper cars have their pumps above the level of the fuel tank by design, and operate perfectly well ... or at least as well as the chrome-bumper pumps :o). You can also change the rubber bumper pumps without fuel siphoning out.
Paul Hunt

Andy
T Type MGs have the fuel pump at the front of the car in a high position, likewise Morris Minors.Having been doing the modification of putting the pump in the boot for several years, and to date not having had a fire, I see no problem, frankly as far as the fire risk goes I don't see that it's any safer underneath the car close to the fuel tank. As Paul Hunt mentioned the rubber bumper cars have the pump protruding into the boot, even so they are still damned awkward to get at to remove the pipes, I still maintain the best place for them to be is where I said originally

Harry Walker
H.E.W. Walker

This thread was discussed between 06/02/2004 and 07/02/2004

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