Mechanical Fuel Pump

[MitchW]

I finally got to drive my Spider Jr. again after a long layoff and it took quite a but of cranking to fill the Weber's bowls enough to get the car started. It took at least a dozen tries, no longer than 5 seconds each to avoid frying the starter. Is this normal for a car with a mechanical fuel pump or is it a problem with the carbs?

I'll probably update to an electric fuel pump at some point but I'd rather not mess with it if its working. There's plenty of other work that needs to be done.

[Sniady]

If the problem continues, fix it. If not, screw it. Fix those other thing's.

[MitchW]

I should have said that this happens anytime the car sits without use for more than a week. Just this time it took longer to get it started. Of course its been more than 3 months since the last time it ran.

Some more possibly useful info, the car is a low mileage 69 (~30k) and while the carbs were cleaned by the PO the fuel pump has never been serviced.

[papajam]

The fuel level in the bowl will drop over time thru evaporation and/or leakage and it will take the mech fuel pump a little time to refill the carb(s). Try 15-20 seconds crank time before allowing the starter to cool off. The cat's *** setup is to have an electric pump at the rear of the car (with an on/off switch) feeding the mech pump up front. Turn on the key, flip the switch and let the electric pump fill the carbs.

[MitchW]

Why not just go full electric and bypass the mech fuel pump? With my low voltage ouput at idle (generator) I might have some problems but then again it doesn't need to supply much fuel at idle.

So basically sounds like this is normal. I was worried that either my carbs were missing gaskets or my fuel pump diaphram was about to fail and have little desire to end up on the side of the road at some inconvenient time.

[papajam]

Quote:

Originally posted by MitchW Why not just go full electric and bypass the mech fuel pump?