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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Spridget 50 at risk!


This morning the Sprite broke down, guessing it's fuel pump, car started "chugging" then stopped altogether. Started and run for a few seconds once it had been pushed round the corner onto a slight downhill slop.

No "clicking" noise when ignition is switched on either. Found a QH electronic pump and wondering if anyone else has used one? And one quick question, what colour is the live feed wire to the pump on a 1970 Sprite?

Will pull the carb float covers to see if the bowels are dry tomorrow, (cars not at my home, left it where it stopped!), so wish me luck!

Andy
a borris

Switch the ignition on.
Tap the pump body with a hammer or even just thump it with your fist.
Should start it clicking again.

Guy
Guy Weller

dry bowels can be a problem !
think the pump feed is white.
David Smith(davidDOTsmithATstonesDOTcom

yes I use one of the round bodied ones

I am fairly certain the colour of wire you want is white

but just give the SU pump a smack* and buy one at the party off one of our supporting traders or auojumblers, bound to b several/many pumps around

*usual cure for a common problem


Bill

Did try giving it a tap at the roadside, while try a thump with a hammer today!

If a thump does get the pump working, how reliable a cure will it be? Travelling from Kent to Spridget 50 with my young son and I need to get him home for Sat night.

Andy
a borris

Andy.

It is usualy a good cure, but the start of potential longer term troubles. In an ideal world, you'd fit a new pump. Be rest assured, they only take a short time to replace, but be prepared for a petrol shower...! Plug the pipes as you remove them.

Good luck and see you there.

Mark.
Mark Boldry

Well i've had dry bowls before, as did Oliver in the film of the same name, however i've never had dry bowels. Sounds quite painful.



bowel ˌbaʊəl (also bowels)
noun
the part of the alimentary canal below the stomach; the intestine.
• ( the bowels of ——) the parts deep inside something large : the train picks up speed for its final plunge into the subterranean bowels of Manhattan.
ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French bouel, from Latin botellus, diminutive of botulus ‘sausage.’

Brian

Oh no..... sausages for breakfast!

lol

Mark.
Mark Boldry

Dry bowels is what happens as your beloved stops on the busy ring road during the morning rush hour! And yes, I did suffer!

Luckily, a friend lived very near and the car was pushed into is parking space, he's now parking about 1/2 mile away from his flat!

Andy
a borris

It's white, as above - white is the colour of the all ignition 'live'.

I used to keep a section of 1" x 1/2" in the garage to wake up the pump after a few weeks of non-use. You should be careful to tap the pump body and not the inlet/outlet where the hoses connect, which are made of plastic...

A
anthony

I believe the correct term for this procedure is
'percussive maintenance'
or
'adjust with FBH'

I hope that makes it clear.
robnrrugby

Andy, you need to have the ignition ON when you thump the pump. Usually then works and may then continue for some months without trouble.
Or, you end up having to reach under the car 27 times in a 70 mile journey!
Guy Weller

Actually, I had a similar problem happen intermittantly. The wiring to th epump was just wrapped around the terminals and not afixed with spade connectors. jiggling it would usually bring it back to life. If the pump is reletivly new you could try replaing the points as those are usually what fouls first.
S.A. Jones

This thread was discussed between 22/05/2008 and 23/05/2008

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