Series 1 ran out of fuel

had been letting the s1 tank run down as its only moving around on the drive at the mo.

still around an inch of fuel in the tank but it seems the level is now at the bottom of the tube for the fuel pipe.

stuck some petrol in via a can but no fire. I can hear the pump clicking away continually but nothing is getting through.

do I need to pull it through manually or is it more likely some crap has got sucked in and blocked a filter somewhere?

petrol btw

You said it, crap blocked the filter, pump, carb.

Have fun and think how,easy it was to chuck a couple of gallon in there.

pete1987RRC said:

how,easy it was to chuck a couple of gallon in there

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indeed, next time I shall be more motivated, nearest filling station is only a couple of hundred yards, I just kept thinking manyana

While it's empty, I'd be tempted to buy a cheap wet and dry and vaccuum out the bottom of the tank.

honolulujoe said:

indeed, next time I shall be more motivated, nearest filling station is only a couple of hundred yards, I just kept thinking manyana

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Least you will have your clean fuel supply in view when you bang your head on the bonnet after trying to undo the tight rusty screws....

Bet it's a gauze filter or internals on the pump.

monkfish24 said:

While it's empty, I'd be tempted to buy a cheap wet and dry and vaccuum out the bottom of the tank.

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I knew a chap who once did this on a bike tank, lots of fire brigade, ambulance fuss followed.
His hair style never looked right afterwards and he had to sell the bike to pay for a new Hoover, and kitchen for his mum.

monkfish24 said:

While it's empty, I'd be tempted to buy a cheap wet and dry and vaccuum out the bottom of the tank.

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its not empty, that's how I got caught out, gauge isn't very accurate so I sometimes use a long screwdriver to have an idea how low it is. only when I looked inside I could see the pipe is an inch or so off the tank bottom. guess that helps to reduce the risk of bits of crap getting in.

pete1987RRC said:

when you bang your head on the bonnet

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I take the bonnet off now as it is so easy to do, had it fall on my head once. luckily the spare wasn't on at the time

hopefully common sense could be applied in this case where you mix the fuel with soap and water BEFORE sucking it out.

pete1987RRC said:

I knew a chap who once did this on a bike tank, lots of fire brigade, ambulance fuss followed.
His hair style never looked right afterwards and he had to sell the bike to pay for a new Hoover, and kitchen for his mum.

Click to expand...

honolulujoe said:

its not empty, that's how I got caught out, gauge isn't very accurate so I sometimes use a long screwdriver to have an idea how low it is. only when I looked inside I could see the pipe is an inch or so off the tank bottom. guess that helps to reduce the risk of bits of crap getting in.

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ahh ,y apologies, I read it as the fuel being an inch from the pipe, I was thinking earlier, your probably just sucking air now but I thought that would be stating the obvious!

Probably a crack in the pickup pipe just above the gauze filter.

I'd be inclined to put a little fuel in the carb.......try starting it that way....if fuel isn't pulled through its a strip down to check lines and pump efficiency.....

I'd be inclined to put a little fuel in the carb.......try starting it that way....if fuel isn't pulled through its a strip down to check lines and pump efficiency.....

thx for the replies chaps

ok tried sticking fuel in the carb, fired straight away but soon died, did it again same thing happened so I shall start at the pump and work back.

true to form on this supposedly hottest weekend for months it has started raining will have a go later.

I also smell of petrol so am expecting an ear bashing from the doris who can't stand the smell of it

Blackburn said:

Probably a crack in the pickup pipe just above the gauze filter.

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looks like you called it @Blackburn. took the rubber pipe off between the pump inlet and the metal pipe that comes from the glass sediment bowl thing. dry as a bone but the bowl was full to the top. stuck a tube on the end of the metal pipe to see if I could pull fuel through with a hand vacuum pump (to indicate if the system up to there was ok), fuel came through - and went back when I took the pump off. so I connected the other end of the tube to the fuel pump. turned it on and in a couple of secs fuel was coming, fired her up, sweet as a nut

so I guess the rubber pipe was letting in air. should have some fuel pipe somewhere, if not will get some in and be back in action

pic

luckily I saved the excess from when I replaced the pump to carb pipe last year and it was more than long enough so its on and the s1 is mobile

not a fan of this steel braided pipe that braid is a pig to cut through. must be stainless?

If you get a moment check the fuel pump, this could also be a sign of a damaged diaphram

Also check your meds with matron.
Ya blinkin barmpot.