A couple of quick questions!
A couple of quick questions!
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Discussion

Bomber Denton

Original Poster:

8,762 posts

284 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
O.K. the 3000M has been stood on the drive for a month or two and i've gone out today to give it a fettle.

The fuel gauge in typical TVR fashion works once a month and i though the car was low so I added a fresh can of fuel. The battery was given a top up, the tyres some air etc.

Anyway the car isn't firing up, it's spinning nicely but there is a distinct lack of fuel in the in-line filter, having not run an Essex before is there a need to bleed the system?

Also the clutch seems to be sticking - best and safest way to free it on these?

Thanks in advance.

Corin

cantus

925 posts

268 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
The trick to start a 3 liter when stood stil for a long time, is simple !
Take off the airfilter ! Put a couple cc's of petrol in the carbs and the engine will definive start !!!

To release the clutch is also simple. Engine off ! Put the car in first or reverse gear ! Push in the clutch pedal ! Than, start the engine while clutchpedal is pushed in. The car will move now !! Be carefull !!!! Make some space in front and rear of your car ! After 1 meter the clutch wil be free. Mabey you have to do this a couple of times ! It definitiv will work.

Succes
William

Bomber Denton

Original Poster:

8,762 posts

284 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Brilliant, thanks for that - off to put it to the test!

Corin

sprintmp

379 posts

300 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
An alternate to the clutch problem is to wedge something that holds the pedal down - and wait.

It's quite scarey to hear the "boing" in the middle of the night as it frees!

Bomber Denton

Original Poster:

8,762 posts

284 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
O.K. filled up the carb with fresh fuel and it's exactly the same - fires and dies, in-line filter empty?

cantus

925 posts

268 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
In that case, try again !! The mechanical fuelpump is not strong enough to push the petrol when startermotor is turning around! Pump is doing fine when engine runs !
Or...!!! Your pump is broken !!

Bomber Denton

Original Poster:

8,762 posts

284 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Off I go again!

Bomber Denton

Original Poster:

8,762 posts

284 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all


No joy, three times now! On third attempt put fuel in the carb then opened the chokes added more fuel again before cranking!

cantus

925 posts

268 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
I think the problem is in the fuelpump !
What you could do is release the pressuresite of the pump.
Fill the carburaterchamber. Connect the flextube back on the pump and start the engine.
The engine will run for at least 10 to 15 seconds! When the pump is OK it will start pumping in these 10 seconds ! If not, Fuelline is blocked between tank and pump or pump is broken.

Bomber Denton

Original Poster:

8,762 posts

284 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Off I go again!

Bomber Denton

Original Poster:

8,762 posts

284 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
O.K. filled the chokes, diconnected fuel line to pump - as soon as I did this the in-line filter filled up with fuel as it should! Tried to start, again only ran for 2 seconds and cut out, reconnected fuel line, tried to start, no different and filter is empty again??

cantus

925 posts

268 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Right !! So petrol doesnt reach inlet manifold from the carbs ! Can you check if carbs splash petrol into the hole when you pull the gascable or push the lever on carb ? For this check you have to fill the carbchamber and keep the engine turned off! If it doesn't splash into the inletmanifold, the chamber can be full of dirt. To solve this, carefully remove the top of the carbchamber by unscrewing the bolts and check the chamber.
I did had this problem years ago with a 3 litre. Chamber was full with red dirt !

thegamekeeper

2,282 posts

298 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
BE VERY CAREFUL SPLASHING PETROL AROUND THE ENGINE BAY!!!!!!!!. A very dear friend of mine with 35 years in the motor cycle repair and race prep business ( so experienced) had a horrific accident earlier this year when petrol flashed back whilst trying to do exactly what you are doing with a stubborn Ducati.His garage burned down, he was trapped inside and suffered 70% burns and is VERY ill.
It is obvious from what you say that the fuel pump, I assume still the mechanical one is not pumping. Take it off the engine, its only 2 bolts and check the lever is not stuck (common) and that the diaphragm is not perished. Either fit a new pump or better still fit an electric one with fuel pressure regulator, sTeVeR

cantus

925 posts

268 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
You are very right Steve !!
You have to be carefull with these things.
What do you recon this "not starting" problem is ?

ATE399J

732 posts

253 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
What the Gamekeeper has said is absolutely right in all respects. Before I switched to an electric pump I had the same problems, filling the float chamber usually worked - but not always. On occasions I had to prime the pump by taking it off the car and manually filling it - they don't like pumping air it seems!

As the Gamekeeper said, get an electric one!

thegamekeeper

2,282 posts

298 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
It is obviously a fuel problem because the engine fires when fuel is present so ignition is working. The fuel side is very simple and its just a matter of being methodical. If the clutch is also stuck on the car has obviously been somewhere damp (England in November)so the arm in the pump which acts o the camshaft could be stuck. I realise Corin says he has put some fuel in tank but another gallon might help. Try taking the fuel line off the pump and see if when cranking over the pump is pumping by putting finger over pipe. You can either do this on the inlet side of the pump and check for vacuum or outlet and check for positive pressure. If pump not working remove and investigate actuating arm and diaphragm. If pump is working check filler cap vent is not blocked. Try blowing back down the line to check for/ clear any blockage.
If you are going to try Williams starting in gear method do it now while the car wont start because if it fires while you are stuck in gear you may need a new garage, 1 metre is just not enough room. Try alternatively jacking the car up once you have it starting and putting both rear wheels off the ground using axle stands. Run the engine with the car in gear for a while to warm things up, this often frees the clutch and gentle acceleration and deceleration helps but i mean gentle sTeVeR

Bomber Denton

Original Poster:

8,762 posts

284 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
OK I have got the pump off, the long lever has about 25mm of free-play at the end of the lever but no further movement - is this right?

thegamekeeper

2,282 posts

298 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
The lever works on a lobe on the cam and has a spring pushing it back in a rocking action. If that is working check for push/pull from pump as above.

Bomber Denton

Original Poster:

8,762 posts

284 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Firstly Thanks everyone for bearing with me today!

O.K. disconnected the fuel inlet to the pump and drawn fuel into the filter so supply is fine. Stripped the pump and the diaphram is fine but once stripped the lever worked as it should a little free play and then a positive arm movement,
Once rebuilt it stopped moving, with a little pressure applied the line came off the carb so now I am assuming the blockage is there?

Removed the line to carb, on trying to blow though the line by mouth I am getting a very restricted passage of air. is this right?

Also the brass union into the carb came out with the fuel supply line, I am assuming this shouldn't happen or is it retained by pressure????

thegamekeeper

2,282 posts

298 months

Tuesday 6th December 2005
quotequote all
Sounds like the pump is freed off now. The little brass pipe from carb just needs GENTLY tapping back in (check for leaks after)!!. If the line is connected to pump then you are trying to blow against the diaphragm. If it is not connected and still difficult it could be blocked but I have never known that particular pipe to block but there is always a first time sTeVeR