The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 - Squeaks when Cranking, negligible fuel flow

Hi guys!

I've been driving around in Number Seven, and I put her away a few weeks ago, and now she won't start.

The engine cranks, and up until Friday, it would fire up for a few seconds and run badly, and then stall out. Now it just cranks and cranks and cranks and the fuel pump is pumping, but the volume is not what I've come to expect (which explains why it wasn't running for more than a few seconds) and now there's also a rhythmic squeak when it cranks over, too.

I already pulled the belt and it's not the water pump or the generator.

I'm wondering if it's the fuel pump, but it is new as of last year, so I'm thinking it's probably not likely. There are no loose fittings or anything on the fuel lines, and the petcock on the tank is open.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[is hoping that it's not the cam]

Not a vacuum leak at the carb/manifold?????????

The squeaking may be totally unrelated to your problem, or it may be the fuel pump. Loosen the fuel line and see if you have fuel going to the pump. If not, look for a restriction in the petcock. That is a likely place for debris to settle. If you do have fuel at the pump, the fuel pump may have gone bad. If it is an old NOS, some of them will not stand up to today's fuel. While you have the pump is off, stick something, not your finger, like a dowell in the hole and see if the lobe is still there. A leaking fuel pump can squirt gas on the lobe and lose lubrication and wear quickly. If it is the fuel pump, buy a new one.

Loosen the fuel pump attaching bolts a couple of turns, and wobble the pump housing up and down an inch or so. If that produces better fuel flow, you might have camshaft problems. Also check the pressure and vacuum at the pump fittings. Will the engine run with a gravity-feed tank plumbed directly to the carburetor?
Jerry

I was wondering if the "squeaking" sound was mechanical or a vacuum squeak ????????

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions.

Doc Bob: I must admit to being a bit of a novice when it comes to identifying a squeak's source. I have checked the vacuum line to the vacuum advance, and it seems to be solid, and the plug in the manifold is still in there tightly.

Crenwelge: The fuel pump was "new" last summer; It's one of the more modern ones with the all-metal housing. It's entirely possible that it had been in the warehouse at my FLAPS for a while, though.

The Tank was redone last summer as well; I had the local "Gas Tank RENU" place do it, and so far, so good. If there is debris or something in the tank that is big enough to block the petcock, then it came in the gasoline -- which is a possibility. That will be the last thing I check I think... There's about a half-tank of gas in there, and I don't have a 10 gallon pan to drain it all into.

Jerry: I will try the wiggle. There is gas at the pump, but I didn't remove the line from the pump, I just loosened it up so that it started weeping. I will pull the line going up to the filter and carb and check to see how far the pump will shoot the gas.

I haven't tried a gravity feed tank. I may be able to get my hands on a motorcycle tank, or perhaps one off of a small garden tractor... or, if push comes to shove, fab one out of a gas can. What do you recommend?

I've seen everything from a turkey baster, ball canning jar to a funnel with fuel line attached as a make-shift gravity fed tank. As long as the source is above the carb. BE CAREFUL, IT IS FLAMMABLE FUEL AFTER ALL... hope you get her straightened out.

Okay...

I have really good flow to the inlet side of the pump, and I have some fuel flow on the outlet, but not what it normally is. I pulled the pump off of the side of the engine, and I'm not seeing very good suction. I think it's the pump.

Darn it.

I still have to try the gravity-fed tank route. I will try to do it this weekend and report back.

In the meantime, I will track down another pump. Thanks, everyone!

Brendan,
Any update on this post? I have a '52...similar problem..... Good flow into the pump..very little out.... Carb dry as a bone but will run with a gravity feed...
I was going to ask if the pump could be cleaned or repaired but haven't seen indications of that being likely on this web site.
I'm checking the vacuum and will probably take the pump off next....
I have the original glass cap on mine.....

If the cam is bad on the engine... I wonder if an electric pump is the alternative.
Anyone have a diagram/explanation of the entire gas line system?

I have seen a few six cylinders cams over the years, and have not seen one that had enough wear on the fuel pump lobe to not actuate the fuel pump. But I have not seen all of them. So I suppose it is possible.
Cleon

Did the squeak go away with the pump off?