My Lister A fuel pump...

Jun 28, 2010 19 Replies

...doesn't, in a word (pump that is).



I've looked at the various posts on the two principal forums but I'm afraid I'm no further forward despite some useful and interesting posts at the Internal Fire forum.



I've also examined the documentation mentioned at the forum but that appears to show a pump which is slightly different (inevitably!).



Mine has a plain plunger and a different cap and came apart in the order: cap, plunger, approx. 10-12mm spiral of felt-like packing material pressing against a shoulder in the bore, small spring (v similar to one from say, a Biro), the remains of (possibly) a gland/ more packing material (too disintegrated to tell), a ball valve and the inlet connection.



The pump illustrated in the Lister A manual shows a plunger with a distinct 'head', a different cap and no spiral of packing material. Of course, it could simply be that the pump has been 'rebuilt' and put together wrongly by the previous owner.



Can anyone throw some light on this so I can rebuild the thing and get the A working again? Thanks in advance.


Jerry I cannot see the thread on IF, probably because I know not what handle you used. However there is certainly more than one type of pump and yours sounds vaguely like the early type. Some pics would really help. Without them its a bit of a guessing game!

ttfn

Is there a proper name or term for that? It happens with depressing regularity... ;-)

Thanks Roland.

Unfortunately I posted at the other forum with, I'm afraid, a less than useful result (I'm not registered at IF).

Can I post pics here?

Jerry,

It may have been for the same reason here, no pictures. Put your pictures up on Webshots or something similar and post the link here.

Apologies to any users of that forum, I didn't quite mean that as it reads!

I'll post a link when I have one and thanks again for the help.

And here is the link:

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Its arranged as it came apart. The spiral packing piece sits against a shoulder in the bore. Below the shoulder is what looks almost like a thread (but isn't) which is meant to hold the spring I think. As I mentioned in the first post there was also some disintegrated material in the lower part of the bore possibly below the spring but it was impossible to tell what it was or where it was supposed to be (and in fact it might simply have been a lot of gunge).

I've also noticed that the actuating arm doesn't seem to have much movement when the engine is turning over -- but then I'm new to Lister As and maybe a little bit of travel goes a long way!

You appear to have the A214 pump introduced at spec 15. It was superceded by the A449 pump. This info is courtesy of DWE's excellent "Lister A and B story" which I strongly suggest you buy. Haven't I done that before ? If the lever moves the pump rod about 1/4" its fine.

BTW I'm da***d if I can find your IF query. Perhaps you could find it and post the URL or provide your username so I can. You don't need to be registered to search.

ttfn Roland

Which would make sense because this is a spec 16 A-type. Do you know how it's supposed to go together? What component was below the spring?

BTW my posting was at Stationary-Engine.net not the IF forum. Here's the link:

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The spring shown is just a ball-valve spring. IIRC there should also be a main plunger spring (I'm open to correction as its a few years since I stripped one). It should be of such diameter to fit within the bore and long enough to extend the rod against its arm at minimum, whilst not binding at maximum compression. Both the balls look scabby and if the seats are in the same state the I doubt either seals.

ttfn Roland

Many thanks for that. I'll look for an exploded drawing of the A214 to confirm. I think the balls will polish up, ditto the seats.

Well you could torture English into mis-re-mantled. (or miserymantled :-) but then you'd be German . . .

It should be possible to figure it out from first principles. Most reciprocating pumps aren't too tricky.

Martin I'm fairly sure they should have a spring on the inlet side but they've often rotted away.

cheers Roland

If that's the case mine run well without :-))

Martin P

Yes mine did until it was on rough ground and shook......

Martin P: that is a very kind offer, thank you.

I'll happily wait until after the weekend or any time at your convenience.

Thanks again Jerry

Jerry,

Go onto Internal Fire site and look under discussion site to see pictures of pump.

Martin, that's excellent and very helpful. I'll post my thanks here because I'm not registered to post at the IF forum. Thank you. Jerry

Jerry,

Your welcome.

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