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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Fuel pump issues !

Just had a mare of a time - as Bill is visiting tomorrow I thought I would wake the old girl up - big mistake !
I know I should use it more but circumstances have not been ideal recently.

Car would not start - tried petrol down the air cleaner and fired up instantly.
No ticking (electronic pump that ticks !) no petrol to carb.

Jacked up rear, wheel off - check for power - yes and using same earth.

Started to take pump off - hoses rather stiff - finally got it off but the tank supply decided that it was going to syphon onto the floor and shirt got soaked and into a cut on the arm !

Jambed a bolt into the hose and did up the clip but still weeping.

Pumped seemed free but tried to test and it did not seem to want to go.

Found a new spare and it pumped when tested across the battery.

Fitted it but dripping petrol not nice, when i tried to replace the tank hose (had goggles on) I stiil got a splash in the eye !

Tried it and not pumping - only one tick when ignition is turned on !

Think I'll have to drain the tank and start again - hopefully in a better mood !
Will get new hose but this stuff was supposed to be ethanol resistant.

Any ideas - I'm thinking maybe a supply cable/earth problem as the pump takes quite a bit of current.

Think I'm getting too old for all this and I've still got an MGB that needs a new tank to fix!

R.
richard b

I recently had a breakdown 200 miles from home, with the same symptoms as you report - one tick when switching on. After a 12 hour journey home requiring 3 trucks, I took the pump to Burlen where I bought it. The electronic switching is triggered by a Hall effect diode and magnet, which is held to the shaft by a grub screw. You guessed it, the screw had fallen out. It is back in now with some locking stuff.

I know you tried a spare pump, but have a look at the electronic one and see if you have the same problem.

I had roughly similar symptoms when a bit of debris got stuck in the pickup tube in the tank. I have no filter on mine, having had to replace a cracked tube - there is one at the front instead. There was just enough flow to do one tick but no more.
Les Rose

Sorry Richard, you'll have to blame me!
Bill Bretherton

Wouldn't a single tick indicate a blockage in the pipe on the outlet side of the pump? Mimicking an already full float bowl? Probably in the fuel line close to the pump which could explain both pumps behaving the same way.
GuyW

No tick from original pump but will blow the line through when I strip it again.

R.
richard b

I had my neighbor's midget quit on a test run. She had packed a lunch and we ate it and drank wine on the freeway exit waiting for the tow truck. This was a 1500 with a new mechanical pump so I reinstalled the electric pump that the previous owner had used. Nada. It turned out that the supply line from the tank to the pump as clogged. I removed the connection at the tank, cleaned the pipe out with a wire and this fixed the problem.

Always carry a spare! I have replaced S.U fuel pumps on both the 1275 Midget and the B in the dead of night, in rain and 300 miles from home. One of replacements started failing only a few days after installation. The S.U pumps have usually proven to be quite reliable but they tend to fail when it is inconvenient.
Glenn Mallory

This thread was discussed on 24/08/2022

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.