The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop no gas

Our original '52 w/216 seems to have a random problem. Twice now, we've been unable to get gas to the carb. We thought it was a bad fuel pump, but it turned out to be fine. This weekend, after a successful morning of errand running, I stopped to top her off (Note: the last time was immediately after a fueling as well -??). When I restarted her, I could barely keep her running, and eventually, I lost. Since then, I can't get her started. We had found a great deal of rust in the glass-bowl style fuel pump previously, but it looks ok now. I pulled the line running into the carb, turned it over, and saw no gas being pumped. 1) should there be gas pumping when turning it over like this, and 2) if not, how can I figure out where the problem lies? The tank & lines are original as far as I can tell.
I'm clueless at this point!
- rick

Pull the line to the left of your fuel pump to see if it might be clogged at the tank. If no fuel comes out on its own (with a behind the seat fuel tank), you have a clog. When you gas up you agitate the sediment in your tank and maybe you got a clog.

It may be that fuel being precipitated in the tank 'shakes up' rust particules wich are then thru the system? rick

Darn, TonyM, you are a fast typer! You beat me by a half second, now my post is redundant...

With redundancy comes consistency - thanks, I'll check it out!
- rick

I like calling it fuel precipitation though. :p

driving my '50 home one day, the 'ol girl started to spit and sputter and slowly stop running... to make a long story short I went under the truck and closed than re-opened the fuel petcock. started right up and ran fine afterwards. (i know i have alot of junk in the fuel tank, i should get it cleaned out)

I had the same problem with my '53 several years ago. Pulled the fuel line at the gas tank and the other end at the fuel pump. Shot some carb cleaner down the line and nothing came out the other end. Kept putting carb cleaner in one end and hung the line up so it could eventually drain through. After about a half hour I got about a foot length of black stuff that finally snaked its way out. I ended up draining the gas tank and then put fresh gas in. No problem after that. The carb cleaner worked real good though. That may be what your problem is if you have a buildup of garbage in the bottom of your tank.

I have an alternate theory, so I'll set it up for target practice. When you say "topped off" it reminds me of a case of fuel starvation I accidentally created by overfilling the tank (on a non-stovebolt). Once the fuel level rose past the vent tube in the filler neck, it created a vacuum in the tank the fuel pump couldn't overcome. Please note, I don't have a vent tube on my panel's filler neck and I have no idea if this scenario is possible with the p/u style fuel filler. That's my theory, you may fire at will.

edit: Next time it happens, try taking off the gas cap and see if it fixes the problem. When it doesn't, then pull the fuel lines. :p

If it has the original style hose from the fuel line to the pump,you might want to check it. I have had problems with them collapsing on the inside before.

Hedgehog has a good idea with the gas cap. It is not unusual for a clogged tank vent creating a vacuum on the gas tank, preventing gas from flowing.

Jon.

Good call again hedgehog

Thanks for all the advice! I was wondering about the venting myself from a previous experience with a '96 Sonoma. All the crud we've seen in the glass bowl is a good clue, too. I'll clean out the lines, and do my best to clean the tank - probably look at getting it done professionally, or replacing it. Haven't ordered a new part in a week or so - showing signs of withdrawals...
- rick

Just to follow up, I shut off the petcock, removed and cleaned all the lines, and found it still wouldn't start. I replaced the gas pump itself at this point, because we'd had a problem with the old gasket under the glass bowl previously - no vaccuum. It fired right up with the new pump.
I'm still pretty sure I've got a bunch of junk in the tank, but at least now I know what to do about cleaning the lines, etc.
Thanks!
- rick