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MG TD TF 1500 - New start up jitters

I got the 53 TD on the ground Saturday and started it up and it ran great and sounded good. I drove it just slightly to get it up to temperature. After shutting it down and letting it heat soak, I got the typical vapor lock which I have always had. This time it was different. The fuel pump was ticking extremely fast so I disconnected the fuel line at the carb and let fuel flow into a bucket. At that point, I plugged the line and the pump stopped ticking as normal and then it started ticking extremely fast again and then stop and started ticking fast again for about 20-30 seconds. The fuel line from the tank to the pump is not close to any exhaust pipe or source of heat. Would you suspect the pump? Also I have ordered a heat shied from Brown & Gammons to help remedy the heat problem. I was hoping to drive it in a local 4th of July parade but scared of the heat situation.

Thanks, Bill
Bill Brown

Bill,

A fast-clicking fuel pump can be indicative of many things - to start:

First, if there is no restsitve back-pressure on the pump, look on the ground to make sure the fuel isn't just pumping it through.

Air in the system can cause it. Check all unions ... back off and re-tighten.

I would also lift the fuel bowl tops and make sure that there are no stuck floats or a stuck needle valve.

The issue of excessive heat in T-Series is idiosyncratic and boiling fuel in one T may not happen in another. Don't ask me why, but not everybody has to install a heat deflector.

There are other causes, but I deliberatly kept away from the pump itself as it is more time-consuming than any of these ideas.

Lastly, please take care pumping fuel into a jar of similar container in a warm or hot engine compartment. I fried my Alfa Giuletta that way!

Gord Clark TF4592
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Thanks Gord, I'll recheck all of the unions and carbs tonight and heed you advise on pumping into a jar. The pump seemed to work normal Saturday before getting it hot. It was extremely warm here this past weekend.

Bill
Bill Brown

Bill, couldn't resist. I drove once and only once in a 4th parade 2 years ago. Half way through the kids got me with that squirty snake stuff in spray cans! Parents had no control. It left lovely snakey marks on my paint that would not come off! Plus it ran at 100C the whole route! Again, none of my business, but thought you might be interested. Keep your eyes open!
Ed
'50 TD
efh Haskell

Ed, you might be right. Driving a British car in a 4th of July parade might be considered in bad taste. Also the engine is fresh from a rebuild and that might not do it any good.

Bill
Bill Brown

I doubt these kids knew Brit from Italian - they were just obnoxious little darlings whose parents didn't have a lot of common sense that day.
efh Haskell

Bill, the Town of Plymouth's 4th of July parade wouldn't be completer without Lazarus (my 52TD) being in it. Last year the parade was canceled due a lack of funds. The local newspaper complaining about was printed below a photo of Lazarus in the previous year's parade. I've seen the water temperature gauge needle up in the oil pressure scale, but I've never had vapor lock. Go for it, IMHO.


Bud Krueger (TD10855)

Have been in two parades...a Christmas one (no overheating problem) and a Canada Day one last year...again no problem.... keep it revved up and the temp (mine anyway) didn't go high at all....


gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Hi guys: With the high temperatures down here in Puerto Rico I used to have vapor lock now and then. When I restored Taddeus (1953 TD) I was determined to solve this and I did. This is what I did:

1. Recore the radiator
2. MGB yellow cooling fan
3. One bottle of Water-Wetter in the radiator
4. Grose valves in the carburators float chambers
5. Jet Hot coating in the exhaust manifold
6. Insure the engine is tuned correctly.

Since I took this steps temperature seldom goes over 90 and no vapopr lock whatsoever.

Hope this helps.

Stuart
Stuart J. Ramos

TC 2492 only overheated once, in the 4th of July parade in 1985 when the engine was new and tight. It has been in quite a few parades since, with no overheating what so ever. Vapor lock is another issue. Unlike overheating, Vapor lock gives no warning, just poof, dead.
The MGA on the other hand...
D. Sander

Gord, I checked all of the unions, pulled the top covers off of the carbs, looked for fuel leaks and everything looks normal. I powered the pump on with engine cool, the pump ticked normal for a while and then started ticking extremely fast for 5 to 10 seconds, back to normal and then fast again. I suspect the pump itself. This is a rebuilt pump I purchased about a year ago during the restoration. I've ordered a electronic + earth SU pump from Moss and will deal with this pump later to carry as a spare. As for the parade, my better judgement says get the engine broke in first before trying that.

Thanks,
Bill
Bill Brown

Bill, I absolutely would not do a parade with an engine that has less than 1,000 miles on it. Even 2,000 would have me leery. Bud
Bud Krueger (TD10855)

Bud, point well taken.

thanks,
Bill
Bill Brown

Bill, What is the condition of the inside of the tank. A small particle of rust, etc under the disc in the outlet of the pump just below the threaded fitting, could cause it to lose its prime. This disc acts as a check valve. I've been there; an intermittant pump can drive one to distraction! Since my pump was the only real reliability issue with my car, I did the same as you: I installed the solid state S.U. about 5 or 6 years ago, and it has performed flawlessly.
Steven Tobias

Steven, the tank has been cleaned and re-coated. I can let the pump, pump fuel into a container with no problem. When I deadhead the hose, it will act normal for awhile and then run erratic. The pump has sit about 2 years since rebuild. I suspect the diaphragm could have dried out. I will install the solid state pump, revisit this pump as a backup.

Bill
Bill Brown

I used to put my TD in parades, but as we are both retired, I no longer do so. One trick I would like to pass on to those that are considering a parade, I used to pop open the front and the rear of the bonnet sides, to allow for a better air flow in and out of the engine compartment. While I realize our temperatures do not reach the level of those further south, it may be of some help to those in a slow parade.

George Raham
George Raham [TD4224]

The hits just keep on coming. I don't know why I haven't noticed up to this point but the left rear is setting about 1" lower than the right. After looking at the leaf springs, it appears there are no breaks but the left side has lost some arc. How bad is to pull this with the body on?

Thanks,
Bill
Bill Brown

...well, our Parade today was in perfect weather...70 degrees and sunny.... It is only a few blocks long and when done I was at about 85 degrees or so..... great fun...and a great Canada Day....

http://www.niagarabritishcarclub.org/events10/canday/album/index.html




gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Plymouth's prediction for Sunday's parade is 90F. The parade route is 3 miles long moving south. That means that the radiator is facing into the sun while inching along for about 3 hours. Prestone at 50/50 doesn't boil over when the water temperature gauge is reading on the oil pressure scale:


Bud Krueger (TD10855)

This thread was discussed between 28/06/2010 and 02/07/2010

MG TD TF 1500 index

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