Another Electric Pump Install

[SMC17]

I've read most of the articles on installing an electric fuel pump on my AC 620. I purchased a Purolator 2-4 Psi facet pump and the necessary fittings, hose and electrical parts. My question is how to plug the holes in the existing fuel pump? I plan on fabricating a plate as Paul did in his article but in the mean time I'd like to just seal the mechanical pump and use my new setup. Can I plug the existing pump using brass plumbing plugs? I'm almost certain that the old Onan pump has failed given that there is absolutely no gas getting to the carb, no gas in the filter, and no gas in the return hose. I read in one of the posts that plugging the existing pump is the way to go to prevent contamination until I can get a plate fabricated. Do I plug using the pumps internal threads or should I plug it after the fittings (i.e. plug a short piece of hose coming off the old mechanical pump. Thanks for the help Sean

[HubbardRA]

If you are really worried about the pump still being partially functional, then use a rubber hose to connect the inlet to the outlet. That way if it did do any pumping, it would just be moving air in a circle and not building any pressure.

[SMC17]

Replaced the fuel pump yesterday with the electric setup and it fired up. However, (and isn't there always an "However")It only idled for about 30 seconds and then died. It will turn over but won't hold it's idle regardless of choke position or throttle position. I plugged the old pump and will try connecting a hose to the input/output in a loop to relieve any pressure build up but I doubt that's the problem. I pulled the dipstick and it looks like I've got some gas in the crank (looks a little thin and smells of gas). The engine seemed to be emitting some black smoke on startup(for a short time)and there was a faint gas smell like the carb was running rich before the problems began. How do you guys suggest I proceed? I was thinking of the following steps 1. Connect "loop" hose on old fuel pump. 2. Drain crankcase and refill with fresh 30 weight. 3. Adjust carb? Could the new electric pump be flooding the system? Do I need to adjust the main jet? 4. Rebuild carb and replace float. I doubt this carb has been cleaned in a while. Could the float be sticking and causing problems? 5. Return to simpletractors and beg for more help! Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I've searched ad nauseum on the fuel system and I hope I'm not missing something obvious. This tractor is new to me (had it about a month) and I've had to put in a new starter and fuel pump already. I'm itching to get it working as my projects build up. Sean

[D-17_Dave]

Sean, the carb. in most cases shouldn't need readjusting unless the fuel pump was bad weak before. Look for a more obvious problem first. Did you leave the fittings on the carb. in place? There is a restriction in the tee on the carb whitch directs less fuel to the return line. This needs to be in place or the fuel will just return to the tank and not be forced into the carb. If you left all that alone, then inspect it to make sure no one else removed these fittings. Next pull the return line and power up the pump. Do you have a steady heavy flow of fuel? If not check the tank for a restriction blocking the pickup tube. I've seen this many times. A piece of cork float off the gas guage or debris in the tank getting sucked up in the flow blocking it intermitantly. If you have good flow then the fuel pump and lines are functioning and about all thats left is the carb. If the engine ran well while you have had the tractor then it shouldn't be anything big. If it's never ran well then a more serious approach may be nessasary. The biggest thing to loook for is trash or debris in the inlet of the needle valve going into the carb. Removeal of the carb and the fuel fittings will be nessesary to check this. Wile it's off, clean it and inspect and make any reqiured adjustments. This is a good time to ake the block off plate for the pump. It's a LOT easier to adjust the main jet without the old pump in the way. Long story shourt, are you flowing fuel trhough the return line? Do you have a blockage in the carb inlet? Hope this helps, Dave.

[SMC17]

Dave, Thanks for the suggestions. I believe I switched the hoses so that the return line was flowing from the second fitting closest to the carb. If I remember correctly this fitting was used for the gas from the pump in the old setup. I read somewhere on here that the flow would be increased if it was connected to the straight through fitting on the T. Could my fittings have been switched in the past? I'll try rearranging the hoses and firing it up.