Starting a Series 2A that has been long asleep

[2short]

I'm having trouble starting the Land rover I bought back in June. Before I got it it had been sitting idol for 10-11 years.
I've got a new battery. New spark plugs. Cleaned the leads and dizzy. Cleaned the fuel lines. Replaced the oils and water. Pulled the fuel pump apart and cleaned it.
I've got power and she turns over.
But I'm having trouble priming the fuel lines. How long should it take using the hand primer before you should see fuel entering the fuel bowl?
Is their a minimum amout of fuel a tank requires for the pick up to suck properly? I have fuel in the tank but maybe not enough.
I've had it running for a moment or two as it uses the fuel I have poured into the carby.
Getting frustrated as I really want to drive the bugger.

[DennisM]

I would be looking at the fuel pump, there is a possibility that either of the valves are stuck, or weak and not allowing the pump to suck n push, hope that's of some help, cheers Dennis

[THE BOOGER]

If it started even for a short time that should have been enough to prime the lines either you need more fuel in the tank or the pick up is blocked you can try pouring more fuel in the carby while its running but if after 30 sec or so it will be fuel delivery problem

[DennisM]

Another trick to prime the system is, get a helping hand from some other person, they use the ignition/starter, while you spray 'start ya b****rd' down the throat of the carby, if the engine will not run when you stop spraying, you have a fuel pump issue, cheers Dennis

[FFRMAN]

Hi,

I had exactly the same problem with one of mine, after many frustrating hours I slowly worked my way logically backwards from carby to fuel tanks, it ended up being a pin hole in the fuel flexi line that goes in the tank side of the glass bowl, swapped it over for a new one and it work perfectly.....

hope this helps

regards
Scott

[Philthy]

Try fly spray down the carb when trying to start it.

Once running-

To rev it up- hold it close.

To slow it down hold it further away. 









 

[Stenny]

Put a 2 meter length of new hose on your suction line into a mower can of fuel, Elevate the can to roughly the same height as the bottom of your fuel tank, no higher though. If it picks up, the pump is ok and I would be looking at the suction line for blockages, perished bits or crud in the tank blocking the pickup. If it does not pick up, your pump is U/S. I note you say you cleaned out the pump, not overhauled it. I would definitely be putting a new one on or a kit through it. I am not sure about series 2 pumps, never had one apart but I am a Caterpillar Engine specialist and reconditioning engines was my job for 20 odd years so have probably had dozens of various other petrol pumps apart over the ages, and most times I find the diaphragm is just stretched beyond operational limits. If it has sat for years with the pump on the up stroke, the diaphragm eventually, stretches. Perished diaphragms are common and valves that stick or leak. Occasionally the plate that sits in the center of the diaphragm leaks around the center crimp as well which allows them to suck air from the opposite side. Normally if that is the case though, air is sucked in on uptake, but fuel also leaks out to the tell tale on the delivery stroke, but you are not getting fuel up for that to happen. Anyhow I would be replacing the pump personally, and all the line in between, and definitely pull the pickup out as it is another possibility. Its a very old vehicle so the fuel tank at that age will almost definitely have growths and rust in it, and more than likely other problems as well. So  drop it out - up end it and get all the chunky bits out, then clean it out thoroughly. Get a little LED pen torch into it somewhere as they are super bright and have a looksie inside. What you see will probably scare you,  but if its not leaking you can get compounds now to slosh about in them that seal the air away from the corrosion and stop it getting any worse. Also you talk of a hand primer, I am a series 3 and Prenentie man so not up to speed with Series 2's but if you have a hand primer in line, bin it. Get a new one.

[FFRMAN]

Also you talk of a hand primer, I am a series 3 and Prenentie man so not up to speed with Series 2's but if you have a hand primer in line, bin it. Get a new one.

Hi, the hand primer is under the fuel pump and manually operates the fuel pump, so if that works you'd recon the fuel pup works - but I'd put a new kit through the fuel pump anyway as the diaphram will probably fail quickly once it starts being used

cheers

[Stenny]

Yes - Fuel pump Diaphragms, like everything old, they have a use by date, alas, as do we all and I am rapidly approaching mine!

[2short]

Very sorry for the late reply guys. Thank you for your advice. The land Rover is still in the shed. Farm and family events have been priority for a bit. But, a fuel pump kit is on order.

[FFRMAN]

Very sorry for the late reply guys. Thank you for your advice. The land Rover is still in the shed. Farm and family events have been priority for a bit. But, a fuel pump kit is on order.

Thanks Ryan,

keep us updated,

cheers

[2short]

Pump kit installed and still no fuel coming into the bowl with the use of the hand primer. Have put a heap of fuel into the tank after checking the tank pick up and cleaning it.
Guess it must be the flex hose before the pump on the tank side. Where did you buy your replacement ffrman as roverparts in Ballarat can't get them they tell me?
I have taken the fuel hose off at the carbie and using the hand primer felt pressure under my thumb as I held the hose closed so the pump is working.
I've also taken the flex hose off at the pump and run compressed air from the fuel line junction under the seats in the cab successfully so there doesn't seem to be a blockage.
Scratching my head.

[FFRMAN]

Pump kit installed and still no fuel coming into the bowl with the use of the hand primer. Have put a heap of fuel into the tank after checking the tank pick up and cleaning it.
Guess it must be the flex hose before the pump on the tank side. Where did you buy your replacement ffrman as roverparts in Ballarat can't get them they tell me?
I have taken the fuel hose off at the carbie and using the hand primer felt pressure under my thumb as I held the hose closed so the pump is working.
I've also taken the flex hose off at the pump and run compressed air from the fuel line junction under the seats in the cab successfully so there doesn't seem to be a blockage.
Scratching my head.

Hi Ryan,

I got the flexihose off one of my parts cars but they should be available, surprised Shaun cant get one, maybe try the UK guys

have you tried filling the glass bowl and see if it pups that fuel up? that would prove pump works, but it sounds like it does.

It does sounds like you have a pin hole in the flexihose and it is sucking air

regards

I might have one floating around you could borrow to prove/disprove it's no good,

[mike_k]

G'day Ryan,

I had this hose fail on my 109, and couldn't find one either.

Eventually I got my local enzed hose place to make me one up, I think it was about $ 50 or so. They were able to find the correct imperial fittings in stock which was a bit surprising.  After that it has been fine.

Have you tried replacing your fuel bowl onto the pump while it is as full of fuel as possible? I had to do this with my GS for a while as it didn't want to suck the fuel from the tank with the bowl full of air. It was fine with the bowl full of fuel, but would not pick the fuel up when the bowl was empty.

I think it was a combination of a weak diaphragm and that dodgy flex hose.

Hope you get it going soon,

Cheers,

Mike.

[Vixen]

Is it a 2 tank S2? Are you sure you are switched to the correct tank? May sound a bit too simple but it's been done before