Jeff Cotter Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 Hi All, I am writing out of frustration and to inform peeps of the issue I have experienced. I was to service the fuel pump on my 67 TR4a. I fitted the service kit which was supplied by one of the main suppliers, and started the car, I left it to run for ten mins and then put the car back in the garage. A few weeks later I started the car but it stopped almost immediately. I sussed it was the fuel pump, so I took it back apart and the picture shows the state of the new diaphragm. I had only just replaced the oil with Millers which I now presume has petrol contaminant in it. The customer service team have said , o yes our supplier has had a faulty batch of these, we'll send a new one out. That's great but I can't help feeling short changed and annoyed with the situ. Sorry for the grumble but I wouldn't want anyone else to have this happen to them.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 Send the supplier of the pump kit a bill for the engine oil with threat of a solicitor’s letter and small claim court case. They admitted fault to you so someone is liable. Rest assured had that happened to your Aston serviced by a specialist the supplier's pips would now be squeaking at the £200.00 per hour labour cost. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 Jeff, do you know what caused this premature failure? And do you have a manufacturer make? A friend is currently rebuilding his pump and he is off course keen to understand if you has a membrane of the same batch. Thanks, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rcreweread Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 Jeff - sorry to hear of your issues - I'm afraid this is not an uncommon with a lot of service kits or indeed repro pumps. If you are worried that the failure may have contaminated the engine oil, try smelling the oil on the end of the dipstick - if it's been contaminated, you should be able to smell the petrol - also check the oil level - has it gone up from what you remember was the level. There should be an seal to fit in the bottom of the pump housing to stop fuel entering the engine if the diaphragm fails but many service kits don't include these. If you are still struggling with whether to continue down the same route, you could consider as an alternative one of my Dave Davies reconditioned OE AC Delco pumps - I still have a few of these left but am selling them on an outright basis, so when they are gone, they are gone. They are priced at £85 each which was an exchange price, but I'm now selling at this price on an outright basis. This price does not include the glass bowl. which are £10 or the tightening strap which are £15 as they have been plated - if you want all the bits, I will do a complete pump for £100 - postage will be on top or can take to Stoneleigh this coming Sunday. Attached are some photos of one of my typical pumps Let me know if you could be of interest - I am planning to take some pumps to Stoneleigh for you to view if that would help, if you are going Cheers Rich C-R Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Cotter Posted February 3 Author Report Share Posted February 3 12 minutes ago, Waldi said: Jeff, do you know what caused this premature failure? And do you have a manufacturer make? A friend is currently rebuilding his pump and he is off course keen to understand if you has a membrane of the same batch. Thanks, Waldi Hi Waldi, I would recommend Richard's offer on here for piece of mind, I have spoken with him and his post is listed above, I am going to purchase one of these.... BTW, The supplier has stated they will replace the kit and the oil and gaskets, so I am in a better position now... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Cotter Posted February 3 Author Report Share Posted February 3 27 minutes ago, Waldi said: Jeff, do you know what caused this premature failure? And do you have a manufacturer make? A friend is currently rebuilding his pump and he is off course keen to understand if you has a membrane of the same batch. Thanks, Waldi PS, I believe it is a reaction with the ethylene in the petrol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 Thanks Jeff, that is what I suspected but it is always hard to tell from a picture. Shouldn’t there be a woven textile in the rubber as internal reinforcement? My friend Bart is following this topic. Cheers, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 1 hour ago, Waldi said: Thanks Jeff, that is what I suspected but it is always hard to tell from a picture. Shouldn’t there be a woven textile in the rubber as internal reinforcement? My friend Bart is following this topic. Cheers, Waldi Bart Holland? https://www.bartholland.com if so give them my regards from the days of them being my customer many years ago. We loved their adverts from the 1980’s Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 Hi Peter, no, it is a different Bart, we have several examples examples, types, year of construction, specifications and appearance over here. Most are taxed. Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ralph Whitaker Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 10 hours ago, Waldi said: Shouldn’t there be a woven textile in the rubber as internal reinforcement? Cheers, Waldi All the ones I have seen have a woven layer normally. Also never seen an all black one, usually a browny red. That looks like a bit of ordinary rubber sheet that Jeffs pump had. Ralph. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quicksilver Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 Isn't it an idea to first put the new pump diaphragm in the fuel for a few days to see how it reacts? (idd I've never seen a black pump diaphragm ..usually ‘brick red’...) Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 Hi, I have a black one in my workshop, next a photo from soem years ago. This came with a "collection" of TR4 parts, bit with some not TR-Parts among it - with a smaller diameter "steel plate". Ciao, Marco Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 43 minutes ago, Z320 said: Hi, I have a black one in my workshop, next a photo from soem years ago. This came with a "collection" of TR4 parts, bit with some not TR-Parts among it - with a smaller diameter "steel plate". Ciao, Marco You can see that the black one is also rubber and canvas whereas the OP one was definitely just rubber hence the failure. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 (edited) I remember the membran of my BMW R90S Dellorto's acceleration pump is also a red "textile / rubber" mix. Good to know what needs attention Edited February 4 by Z320 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 53 minutes ago, Z320 said: I remember the membran of my BMW R90S Dellorto's acceleration pump is also a red "textile / rubber" mix. Good to know what needs attention They certainly are, Ive just changed the ones on my 4a Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 (How) do you know if the “red rubber” is ethanol proof? Submerge it in E10 for a couple of days? If it is single layer of rubber that would be ok I think. For multi-layer ethanol resistant fuel hoses this is not a good idea, the outer layer could be NBR (which is not-ethanol proof). Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 1 hour ago, Waldi said: (How) do you know if the “red rubber” is ethanol proof? Submerge it in E10 for a couple of days? If it is single layer of rubber that would be ok I think. For multi-layer ethanol resistant fuel hoses this is not a good idea, the outer layer could be NBR (which is not-ethanol proof). Waldi The single layer rubber seems from this thread to be the ones to avoid. For fuel hoses buy Gates Barracade R14 then you dont need to worry, its the inner layers that matter. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 Hi Stuart, what I meant is: can you submerge the membranes in E10-fuel as a test? Fuel hoses that are submersible in fuel (example: in-tank pump) have to comply to a dedicated specification for this. Cheers, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fordfiesta Posted February 5 Report Share Posted February 5 (edited) The Roadster Factory in the USA has this one: https://www.trfbasic.com/shop/p/rfk1400 From what I understand, the diaphragm is specifically intended to be resistant to modern fuels. I've used this kit in 6 or 8 Triumphs and Morgans over a 15 or 20 years, and never have had a problem. Others in the Triumph world swear by them also. It might be a good idea to try one now before the USA completely implodes into a dysfunctional dictatorship. Our postal system may or may not be in operation a few months from now. Edited February 5 by fordfiesta added sorrowful comment Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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