3.5 fuel pump ticking continuously

Hi there,

I have a series 2 88" I bought as a project. The previous owner fitted the engine and didnt get round to finishing the install. Currently I have a good spark however it won't run. The fuel pump seems to tick continuously and does not stop. I assume it is just pumping up to the carbs and back to the tank in a loop. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could do to sort this out? I assume that the pump should stop ticking once the carbs are primed? Thanks in advance!

The pump wont stop ticking, you just can't hear it when the engine is running. To start my 3.5 in the RRC the procedure is as follows.
Turn ignition on and listen for ticking to slow down, push the accelerator peddle to the floor then release, listen for ticking to slow again, pull choke out fully, crank engine with feet off pedals, when fires drop to half choke and wait till it warms up.
If I don't do this it won't start.

Have you checked all the basics timing plug leads right order. R the plugs getting wet? How long has the engine being stood if no oil pressure and the lifters r empty the valves will not open fully.

Thanks for the replies. I believe it is a fuel problem as it will sometimes run for a very short period. The fuel pump does not slow down when ticking with the ignition on. I don't think its building up pressure.

Does it have a fuel restrict or in the return line. It may just be the fuel is bypassing the reservoirs, try crushing the return pipe a bit

It seems to run reasonably when pinching the return line! What can I do for a permanent solution? Thanks

Is it on su or zenith or weber check floats not sticking and dumping fuel back to tank

Its on SU carbs. Ive checked the carbs and they seem to be full of fuel. It runs quite well with the return line pinched!

facet pumps do tick

You could try crushing the pipe with small jubilee clip or insert a small bore metal pipe in the return

So on a 3.5 as well..i had noticed the ticking for the first couple of years, now its stopped, but the landy is still running ok, what do people make of that???

cheers

adies_v8 said:

So on a 3.5 as well..i had noticed the ticking for the first couple of years, now its stopped, but the landy is still running ok, what do people make of that???

cheers

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You sure that you cant hear it running with the engine going, like another poster said? If the facet pump is not running you would get no fuel supply.

When I turn on ignition on my 110 v8, continuous pump noise plus sound of fuel dropping back into the tank. Runs great, 16 mpg. (4 litre). Full choke to start, then half, drive away, reduce choke to nothing while in motion, half again if in traffic. One mile down the road choke off.

Interesting that the pinch works. Have you tried a cheapo clamp?

On an old ford, I put a plastic pipe joiner in the return line that had an old carb jet in it as a restriction.

Several things it could be. If it's been standing the carbs may have gummed up, the floats are not rising fully causing fuel to return to the tank (does pinching the return pipe see fuel into the carb throat), the jet isn't rising (check the pistons can rise and fall)

I'm assuming you have SU HS6s/HIF44s or similar BTW