Priming fuel pump..

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to start this motor for the first time. How do I prime the mechanical fuel pump??

I've pumped the gas repeatedly while cranking, but I don't have gas to the carb yet. I'm sure that there is a better way..

brian

 

[addo]

No real way to prime it. Maybe undo the carb fitting and squirt fuel down the tube. Check your rubber hose between tank and steel line - usually it's ancient and needs replacing - along with new clamps.

You could also tack a long rubber hose onto the tank side of the fuel pump, raise it high and fill with fuel to create a "head" of liquid. Blow down it and you should fill the carb bowl; keep topping up until the needle and seat shut off flow. Then reconnect the tank line...

 

[fordconvert]

If you dont know what is in the tank I would start with another tank for now. I used a tank from my boat till I got it running well in the driveway. If you dont have a boat tank you can just shove a hose into a gas can and it should work. When you do get it running and hook it to the tank go to your local parts store and ask for a clear inline filter and put it in the hose between the pump and the steel line that goes back to the tank so you can easily see what is in there since you cant see through the metal one on the carb. At least that way you know you have good gas and can worry about the other 50 things that can keep your engine from running.

I also recomend a fire extingusher handy at all times and get the gas can or tank in a good location so you dont trip on it or get stray sparks from your melting dizzy wires.

 

[LameHoof65]

Just curious, after pumping do you smell gas at the carb?

 

[fordconvert]

Also make sure your dizzy is turning and therefore the cam which is what the fuel pump is driven off of. Hate to see you go through all this work and find out the timing chain is broke or something like that.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies..

The entire fuel system is new, from tank to carb. The only part I'm reusing is the fuel pump itself..

The dizzy is turning (and now not smoking )

There is no fuel to the carb, ie nothing visible, no odor, nada...

I know that the fuel pump only operates when the motor is turning, but since I haven't yet got it started, the pump is empty. I was hoping that there was a trick for getting fuel into the pump. Or do I just keep cranking??

I'll try what addo recommended this weekend when I get a chance, and definitely in the driveway with an extinguisher handy...

 

[mustang6]

I have used a siphon line with hand pump bulb to prime the fuel pump using a small amount of gas in jar. These are available at auto stores for a few bucks. I then put the regular fuel line back on, start the car and run it with the fuel that is in the pump and line to the carb. Sometimes that keeps it running long enough to pull fuel from the tank, sometimes it dies and I have to do it one more time to get the system to fully draw fuel, but I always get it going by the second prime.