14 replies to this topic

[hlynur]

Who runs one and what should it sound like?

most of the time mine is fairly quiet but occasionally it becomes horribly loud. It’s not slowing down or racing, it just gets very very loud.

It’s been suggested that it might be air-locking but it’s set at the correct 45 degree angle and more to a point the car is running fine, so it seems like the pump is actually operating ok. It doesn’t seem related to whether the car is idling or being revved or driven.

I’m not sure if this is just how they are or whether I can look forward to it letting go in another few thousand miles.

Edited by hlynur, 10 September 2007 - 09:45 PM.

[Jammy]

Funnily enough I just changed the one in my old mini because the old one had let go! That always used to be quite loud, and the new one is just the same. It was fitted by Bill Richards, but not at 45* or anything, just bolted striaght onto the back of the rear seat!

[alexcrosse]

how loud is loud? and where is it mounted? mine is where jammy's way, in the boot, at an angle, (35 degree's or so) and it makes a fuel pump noise... normal volume Can easily hear it, and its behind the rear firewall jobby too!

looks on the video, i switch it on there.

you can hear me flick the switch at the beginning.

[The Matt]

Apparently they do recommend fitting the red tops on an angle.

Anyway, it could be on the way out I guess? Hard to say without hearing it.

[hlynur]

yeah fair enough, it's impossible to gauge how loud is "loud".

It's not the loudness that bothers me, it's just the fact that it's so inconsistant. It really does change massively. It's in the boot and I can hear it just fine at idle when it's running "normally". When it's loud it's ...loud.

Is that normal?

[alexcrosse]

what pump is it? i got a competition, my engine will get so loud i cant really hear anything else over it though.

[biggav]

mines is bolted through the rear seat but mounted on some thick tap washers to stop the sound being amplified on the seat panel..... sound is 10 times worse when no rear seat is fitted.

[alexcrosse]

good point! mount it on rubber cotten reel mounts. No vibration from mine or anything atall

[minivanman]

I've got exactly the same thing, it is airlocking. I cure it by turning it on, then running round and blowing in the tank to pressurise it, and it clears. Easy one to fix

[biggav]

I've got exactly the same thing, it is airlocking. I cure it by turning it on, then running round and blowing in the tank to pressurise it, and it clears. Easy one to fix

say again over???

mine sounds like a vibrato..... vibrating drumming/pulsing noise... is that due to an airlock or how it's supposed to be??

[minivanman]

Basically like hlynur said - you can hear it faintly at idle, but when it airlocks, you REALLY know about it - sounds like its falling to pieces.

[hlynur]

Kiss of life eh minivanman? I guess you need a fairly high fuel level and a finger over the vent pipe spigot for that sort of fun...

I dug out some pics for clarity on the installation

The first one shows our mk1 arrangement



The next two are taken after I read the instructions. You can see that it's still on the bobbins but now there is a triangular adapter plate to hold it at the recommended angle.





For sure the noise I'm getting isn't the kind of thing that's gonna be stopped by damping the vibrations with different mounting arrangements, when it does it's trick it's in a whole different league to that.

I can't imagine anything it could be besides airlocks but the thing I don't get is how come it still runs ok? surely it would be doing a pretty poor job getting fuel to the carb?

Edited by hlynur, 10 September 2007 - 09:46 PM.

[minivanman]

Kiss of life eh minivanman? I guess you need a fairly high fuel level and a finger over the vent pipe spigot for that sort of fun...
I can't imagine anything it could be besides airlocks but the thing I don't get is how come it still runs ok? surely it would be doing a pretty poor job getting fuel to the carb?

I prefer to describe it as giving it a *******
The fuel level was fairly low in mine, and I didnt block the vent pipe either - just a little bit of pressure and it cleared. Mine still runs ok when it does it as well, must be just a tiny bit of air inside it.

[Jammy]

I prefer to describe it as giving it a *******

Does the tank pay you after? Or maybe you just share a cigarette....

[hlynur]

Cool thanks. Well I’m pretty reassured if it’s just air getting inside it but it’s tempting to fiddle with the plumbing a little to see if it stops happening. I’ll let you guys know if I find anything interesting.