fuel pumps on 1974 series 2 4.2

[supersonic62]

Hi
I have an issue with the fuel pumps in the boot the car started first time today as not been started since last september when it was last used.It started on right pump but on reversing out into drive it stopped, so switched to left pump, wouldn`t start.Emptied boot and gave right pump a tap with hammer and yo c ould hear it working with the ignition swithed on, it started and ran for about 10 minutes, I then switched over to left pump and it clicked ,car started then stopped and wont start at all. Could it be the pumps are failing or that the lack of use is making them behave in this way, any advice would be appreciated as the car as it is is unreliable and wouldn`t feel happy if I managed to get it started by tapping the pumps everytime, any advice would be appreciated, Regards Paul

[PaulGover]

If I remember correctly, these are SU Electric fuel pumps. They're notorious for being mostly very reliable, but get "sticky" with age and/or neglect. There's a mechanical switch that suffers similar problems to old mechanical ignition points (pip and crater), also diaphragms and such like that harden or leak.

The SU company is now part of Burlen, and have a website at http://sucarb.co.uk/
They sell repair kits, pumps, and apparently an electronic conversion to eliminate the mechanical points, much as electronic ignition does.

[supersonic62]

Hi Paul, will look into the electronic conversion , it may be a solution to this annoying problem,thanks ,Regards Paul