The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Fuel pump wear plate on cam

I bought a rebuilt fuel pump for my 55.1 so I would get the extra vac for the wipers. The fuel pump arm that rides the cam will wear. Someone told me I should put a sacraficial wear plate or shoe on the fuel pump arm to eliminate the potential for wear on the cam. Is this realllly necessary???
Thanks - Scott

Usually the diaphragm wears out on the fuel pump long before the follower does. I wouldn't do anything, it gets oiled, and has less force on it than a valve lifter. You don't worry about your valve lifters wearing out, do you? Besides, if you put something on there and it shreds up it ends up in the oil.

Thanks for the comments....makes sense to me. I appreciat the informed take on it. - Scott

Speaking of fuel pumps - can the diphragm be replaced easily, or is a new pump the best route to go when the diaphragm goes? Mine is seeping a bit at the edges, but is not getting in the oil yet. I check the oil on a regular basis - it is not thin nor does it smell of gas - yet.
BW

The diaphram is easy to replace, but finding one is a little difficult. They're not that cheap really ($19 or so), and I wonder that if I bought one - perhaps it's been on the shelf for several years.

So I think a rebuild pump is a safer bet overall. However, if you bought a rebuild kit in decent shape - and keep the diaphram in good condition with silicon spray, it would be good insurance on a long trip.

When I had my fuel pump off I found it was pretty hard to operate. I thought it was normal, but you say it should move pretty freely?

The pump has a pretty stiff spring in it. Hard to move by hand.

Also, you can buy pumps for these trucks at a mom & pop parts store. When I bought a new pump for my 235, they had 3 options. No sediment bowl, with bowl, and with bowl and vacuum pump. They had all three on the shelf. Can't recall the exact price, I think the vacuum pump model was around $60. And these wre new pumps, not rebuilds.