Trickle of fuel to carb - is this normal?

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  • IIA
    1st Gear
    • Apr 2010
    • 151

    Trickle of fuel to carb - is this normal?

    My 1970 IIA has been stalling out/refusing to re-start when hot. I installed a shielded fuel line but that didn't solve the problem so today I added a clear fuel filter near the carburetor (Solex 36IV) to see how much fuel was getting to it. I was surprised to see that it's really a trickle. I know that's not a scientific measurement but is that normal? I didn't see much variation as the temperature rose, but I didn't want to drive it until it stalled because I'm tired of being stranded in intersections. I have an old Purolator electric pump. Could the pump be the problem?
    1970 Series IIA
    1964 Series IIA [sold]
  • vlad_d
    2nd Gear
    • Apr 2021
    • 239

    #2
    I have a similar issue happening- runs fine until I really run it hard, then it stalls and won't start...leaving me pushing it on the road. Mine restarts after 5 minutes. Which sounds alot like a condition called vapor lock. Basically, the way Land Rover built the intake, exhaust manifold and carb setup is dumb. The carb sits on top of the hot exhaust manifold. As gasoline boils at a lower temp than water, the gas evaporates in the float bowl and leans out the mixture until it stalls. Cooling down the carb and intake/exhaust maniforlds for 5 mins gets you running again. Does that sound like your problem?

    I see in the Parts Manual some kind of heat shield some previous owner has removed. I was going to try to get this, But had other projects stealing focus. I'll be watching this thread to see if you get some results.

    PS. Another thing to check with your electric fuel pump is before buying a new one:
    1) Run it from your battery voltage into a jar to see if it runs/flows right.
    2) Make sure you don't have some voltage drop?
    ...┌───────┬──,,
    ...|______OD__|__\\_____
    ...d ..__ .........° |°... | ..__....p
    »»└/ | \────┴──┴/ | \─┘≡
    ..../..@........................@

    1973 Series 3, 109

    Comment

    • IIA
      1st Gear
      • Apr 2010
      • 151

      #3
      Originally posted by vlad_d
      I have a similar issue happening- runs fine until I really run it hard, then it stalls and won't start...leaving me pushing it on the road. Mine restarts after 5 minutes. .... Cooling down the carb and intake/exhaust maniforlds for 5 mins gets you running again. Does that sound like your problem? I see in the Parts Manual some kind of heat shield some previous owner has removed. I was going to try to get this, But had other projects stealing focus. I'll be watching this thread to see if you get some results.

      PS. Another thing to check with your electric fuel pump is before buying a new one:
      1) Run it from your battery voltage into a jar to see if it runs/flows right.
      2) Make sure you don't have some voltage drop?
      Yes, that sounds like my problem, except I still have the heat shield.

      p.s. great keyboard art
      1970 Series IIA
      1964 Series IIA [sold]

      Comment

      • wrongway
        Low Range
        • Aug 2020
        • 87

        #4
        Originally posted by IIA
        My 1970 IIA has been stalling out/refusing to re-start when hot. I installed a shielded fuel line but that didn't solve the problem so today I added a clear fuel filter near the carburetor (Solex 36IV) to see how much fuel was getting to it. I was surprised to see that it's really a trickle. I know that's not a scientific measurement but is that normal? I didn't see much variation as the temperature rose, but I didn't want to drive it until it stalled because I'm tired of being stranded in intersections. I have an old Purolator electric pump. Could the pump be the problem?
        I am using the original mechanical pump albeit a new one. Yes when you look at the fuel filter it looks like an inadequate amount of fuel being pumped into it. I could spit more. I dont have your problem tho. My problem is if I dont start it up every 2nd day it wont start for lack of fuel. Have to disconnect the gas line at filter and fill the filter up and the line to the pump. I am thinking of trying an electric pump myself to see if it solves my problem.

        Comment

        • wrongway
          Low Range
          • Aug 2020
          • 87

          #5
          Is the fuel pump driven by the camshaft or does it use an auxiliary shaft to drive it. Can something inside the engine fail causing the pump to stop pumping?

          Comment

          • jimrr
            4th Gear
            • Dec 2010
            • 424

            #6
            driven by cam, you can simulate this on a oem pump by pulling up on the manual operating lever on the bottom of the pump. I once made it out of the woods operating this while driving with a bit of string. also, depending on filter positioning you may not see much fuel pass through the filter as a air bubble in there may prevent it from filling all the way with fuel but again, this would depend on the positioning of the filter. you might just break the line on the discharge side of the pump and operate it manually ........ or a bottle on cranking the engine and observe the volume. I have a pump that must allow the fuel to drain back down as every few days i have to crank it a LOT to get fuel back up to the carb. probably nothing new stuff won't fix though i've had the random leaf or bs clog the exit from fuel tank ..... at random! you can also be sucking air into the system though this is easily spotted. or, the vacume relief in the cap stops relieving ........ and more etc.

            Comment

            • roverp480
              3rd Gear
              • Jul 2020
              • 323

              #7
              Originally posted by IIA
              My 1970 IIA has been stalling out/refusing to re-start when hot. I installed a shielded fuel line but that didn't solve the problem so today I added a clear fuel filter near the carburetor (Solex 36IV) to see how much fuel was getting to it. I was surprised to see that it's really a trickle. I know that's not a scientific measurement but is that normal? I didn't see much variation as the temperature rose, but I didn't want to drive it until it stalled because I'm tired of being stranded in intersections. I have an old Purolator electric pump. Could the pump be the problem?
              How well does it pump if you disconnect the connection to the carb & run it into a container . If it's still a a slow flow it could be a blockage in the fuel filler cap , on the pick up pipe in the tank or in the fuel line

              Comment

              • wrongway
                Low Range
                • Aug 2020
                • 87

                #8
                Finally solved my fuel issue. The valve for switching tanks was leaking so sucking air when on the right side tank and no delivery. Bought some cork and made a new gasket and all is well.

                Click image for larger version

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                Comment

                • blueseriesii
                  Low Range
                  • Aug 2016
                  • 21

                  #9
                  I had the same problem, installed an electric pump and now it starts instantly. 1960 series II Solex Carb.

                  Comment

                  • cedryck
                    5th Gear
                    • Sep 2010
                    • 836

                    #10
                    'Im not fond of the changeover system offered by Rover, That cork gasket will easily dry out, crack, and malfunction, worse it could leak, and then you have fuel spilling onto a hot engine. I am investigating another change over switch. Tom's Bronco sent out a Ford changeover, much better valve, I will just need to get fancy about mounting, and attaching fuel lines. I would like to also fabricate a bracket that holds the valve so that I can devise a way so that it activates the Tank sensor switches like the old unit does.

                    Comment

                    • wrongway
                      Low Range
                      • Aug 2020
                      • 87

                      #11
                      The problem with changing things are the fuel line fittings. They are of a thread type that I can not find a match for. I would prefer steel to the plastic lines.

                      Comment

                      • cedryck
                        5th Gear
                        • Sep 2010
                        • 836

                        #12
                        Originally posted by wrongway
                        The problem with changing things are the fuel line fittings. They are of a thread type that I can not find a match for. I would prefer steel to the plastic lines.
                        You would have to make a junction piece, from threaded to flexible fuel line with clamps, it would work but if I do this changeover with the Ford Bronco valve, I would need to have flexible fuel lines, and that means clamps, not crazy about that, but will further investigate and hopefully post some pics,

                        Comment

                        • roverp480
                          3rd Gear
                          • Jul 2020
                          • 323

                          #13
                          I fitted a twin pump SU , two inlets & one outlet , to use with twin tanks .It wont pump between tanks due to its none return valves. Just needed a changeover switch for the electrical side. It was used on the Rover P4 range of cars for operation of the fuel reserve, one pick up pipe is lower in the tank than the other

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