Airlock in fuel line?

[mangocrazy]

We've just visited the moneypit in France and one of the first tasks is always to get the Spider running. This time it really didn't want to start - the fuel filter behind the pump in the fuel line remained stubbornly empty, and I was convinced the pump had failed. I was about to take the pump off for further bench inspection and loosened the jubilee clip on the outlet (carb-facing) side of the pump. As I eased the hose off the fuel pump barb I heard a sharp hissing sound and all of a sudden the filter filled up with fuel.

I can only assume that there was an airlock between the carb and the pump. What could cause this? Sticking float valve perhaps? All I know is that as soon as the pressure was released and everything put back together, the car fired up first turn of the key.

Very strange...

[peteracs]

Hi

So is the money pit the car or the house...?

Peter

[Neil-yaj396]

This isn't unusual when a car has been standing, especially if it has been hot. The fuel in the carb will have evaporated then the relatively weak manual pump can't blow it through. Is your return line clear as a partial blockage here makes things worse.

I have a priming bulb that I bought to prime the carb after a five month lay up.

[mangocrazy]

Peter - the moneypit is the house. And you thought Lancias were bad...

Cheers Neil, yes it's been left for 4 months since the last visit and July/August were (apparently) tres, tres chaud... The mechanical pump was changed for an electric Huco pump about 6 or 7 years ago and has only done a few thousand miles in that time. It's a 'pull' type rather than the Facet 'push' types and lives in the engine bay. I've seen those rubber priming bulbs on eBay and have been meaning to get one for a while now. I think that would be a wise purchase in view of the above.

When I fitted the Huco I blocked off the return line, as it now serves no purpose. Don't know if that would have contributed or not.