Fuel Issue

[Liberty]

This evening while driving my Slick it suddenly stalled. It was running well before this. I determined that no fuel was getting to the carb. The see-through gas filter was dry. I added gas to the tank, just in case the gage was off and I primed the carb. The Slick will run for a few seconds and stall again as soon as the gas I poured into the carb is gone.

I am thinking it is the fuel pump. I have never serviced this part. Maybe a clog? Any suggestions and/or tests?

Thanks,
Liberty

[blackagatha]

do the fuel pump. I bet it fixes. If it doesn't, well, preventative maintenance it was...

[fseries]

^^ Probably is the pump. There may be some dirt in the line that is keeping the gas from getting to the pump. Did gas show up in the filter after you put more fuel in the tank. Is you tank behind the seat??

Where in Maryland?? What are you driving??

[64 f100]

Sounds like the fuel pump, but could be clogged line . Easy enough to find out. Disconnect the fuel line at the fuel pump coming from the tank. Gas should flow out of the fuel line . If it doesn't put a litle pressure to the tank and see if fuel comes out. Not much or you will cause problems oof a serious kind. IF no fuel then work backwards to the problem. There is a fuel line under the cab also coming from the line attached to the tank, connecting the tank line to the line running to the front. Check that for holes, but this would not stop the fuel from running out of the tank under gravity feed to the ground. Two other problems besides clogs come to mind. Fuel cap has to be vented, and fuel line in tank could be rotted thru above the fuel.

Rich

[Liberty]

Thank you for the replies. The fuel pump is in downward position. I tried to unscrew the fuel filter cover. It has threads but the shop manual says it is sealed on the 352 V8. I will take a look at it again tomorrow. I am in the Bowie Area.

[R Pope]

There's no "sock" filter in Slick fuel tanks, the line just ends, allowing crud to enter it. The fitting at the top of the tank usually plugs. Take the rubber line off the suction side of the pump and blow back into the tank. That will get your truck running for a while, but you have to get that crud out of the tank. Sometimes just siphoning the tank dry will get it out, but if there's lots, the tank will have to come off.
Ford in all his wisdom soldered the line into the tank, you have to sweat it out if you want to put a sock in it.

[Gritsngumbo]

There's no "sock" filter in Slick fuel tanks

Are you quite sure about this? Not my understanding at all (at least on the 61-64's).

[Liberty]

NOS Fuel Pump was the fix for the fuel issue. I bought it on e-bay and replaced the one that was not pumping. It started up and ran in a couple of tries. No clog in the fuel line!

Thanks,
Liberty

[ezernut9mm]

i just love a happy ending. lol

[64 f100]

Beware of NOS pumps. If the gas you run has any ethonal, methonol type of additive a NOS pump will most likely not last long. The rubber in those old pumps doesn't usually stand up very well to moddern fuels. Same goes for carb kits.

Rich

[Liberty]

Looks like the fuel issue is back on the table as my slick was on the back of a flat-bed tow truck today! With the replacement NOS fuel pump, the slick was back to normal for a couple of weeks and then it suddenly stalled (no gas moving in the line after the pump). I got it to run a bit but it was a weak flow of fuel and finally it stopped all together. Fuel does flow before the pump. Rich commented on ethanol, methanol type additives that can reduce the life of a NOS pump. I would hope it would not have killed the NOS pump already? Maybe the pump was bad or there is a clog on the pump? I did hear a lot of tapping before the stall.
Thanks,
Liberty

[BarnieTrk]

Liberty,
Since you sound convinced that there isn't any problem with fuel flow to the pump, I'd try to test the pump next.

First thing I'd try is to disconnect the coil wire from the distributor and securely ground it out. Depending on what condition I thought my battery was in, I may remove some/most/all of my sparkplugs. By removing the plugs, the engine will crank over easier. Then I'd disconnect the fuel line at the carb and direct it into a clean, dry, empty gallon jug. Now gather up your favorite helper and ask him/her to turn the ignition key to crank the engine. Have them hold the key for a timed 30 seconds while you hold the fuel delivery line to the carb in the jug. Have a good hold on the jug, as the delivery pressure should be about 5-8psi and will be discharged in spurts.

The engine should spin - easier with the plugs out - and should NOT try to start because you've got the coil wire grounded out. But what should happen is the starter will turn the engine which will activate the fuel pump arm.

If the pump is receiving an adequate amount/volume of fuel and the pump is functioning/pumping properly, it should pump 1 qt to 2 qts of fuel into your jug within the 30 seconds. If you get that, the pump is fine.

Inspect the fuel in the jug looking for crud and/or water. If the fuel looks clean, then just dump it back into your fuel tank. If you don't get that much fuel, then I'd say there is a line blockage to the pump or the pump is not functioning as it should. If you believe it is pump, then it's time to locate the sales slip and take it to where you bought it and argue for return it for a better/good pump! I'd probably suggest you consider buying a new replacement pump form NAPA or equivalent, not just a rebuilt pump, as Rich suggested, it may not be compatible with any amount of ethanol, as it would dry & crack the pumping diaphragm.

Good Luck & keep us posted on your progress!
BarnieTrk

[Liberty]

I had another NOS fuel pump so I replaced it to be sure. It ran strong for about 15 minutes and then the fuel level which I could see through the in-line filter was reduced to a trickle. I tried the jug test. The gas had a pretty strong flow when the line was removed from the carb. When the fuel line is attached to the Carb, the flow slows down to a trickle. According to my research, the carb must be signaling it has enough fuel. Perhaps the float and flow valve in the carb are not working. I rebuilt the carb about three years ago without any issues then.

Thanks,
Liberty

[R Pope]

Grits...I have four of 'em, '62 to '66, and none have a sock, just the open ended line in the tank. The '66 plugs up every 100 miles or so. I've had the tank off and steamed it, but it still does it! I think there was some crud in the line when I had the tank off, and I blew it back into the tank the next time it quit.
The line is soldered into the top of the tank so you can't easily take it off and add a sock.

[BarnieTrk]

When the fuel line is attached to the Carb, the flow slows down to a trickle. According to my research, the carb must be signaling it has enough fuel. Perhaps the float and flow valve in the carb are not working. I rebuilt the carb about three years ago without any issues then.

Liberty,
Sounds like you may want to get some new gaskets and some spray carb cleaner then remove, re-clean & re-adjust that carb....

BarnieTrk

[64 f100]

IF you remove the fuel line to the pump the pump, you should get fuel flowing from the line, as siffon feed from the tank. If you don't then you have a fuel feed problem. First, do you have a properly vented gas cap? Easy way to check is take the gas cap off, and see if there is suction noise as you remove it. Second, You have another fuel line under the cab where the fuel line goes thru the floor. Check this and the one at the pump for softness where it might colapse, and check both for age cracks where it might be sucking air. Third, and this should be done with a new fresh hose long enough to go to the metal fuel line in the engine compartment and the cap off. Attach the new line at metal line in the engine compartment and blow thru this with your mouth. Have someone listen at the gas cap to see if they hear air coming thru, if you are by yourself, get enough line to listen as you blow ( doesn't have to be fuel line) . If so, hook your old fuel line back up and see if engine pulls fuel into the sediment bowl. Problem with a clogging problem is that if you blow thru the line and it clears out, it will eventually come back, but if you carry a screwdriver and the long hose with you, you can most likely get home doing this without aid of someone else's help. Another way you can check the pump, is to get a gas can and run a fuel line hose into it directly from the pump and see if it pick up the fuel quickly. These are easy checks and simple ways of helping diagnose your problem. To save on the starter and battery, I suggest you poor a little fuel into the carb instead of justing using the starter to get fuel into the bowl. Actually the engine should pick up right away once it has started. I usually just set the gas can on the fender to do this, but stand there and let someone else run the starter.

Rich

[Liberty]

Thank you for the advice! When I took the fuel line off the fuel pump (coming from the fuel tank), the gas was siphoning out quickly. I had to blow back into the line (to the tank) to stop the fuel from coming out. When I removed the line from the carb, there was some back pressure and gas flowed out of the line (toward the carb). When I cranked the motor, the fuel comes out of the line pretty quickly.

What has got me thinking is that this all started with a bad fuel pump. I know this because I took the old one off, opened it, and the spring/cap inside was broken. I will do some more checking.

Thanks,
Liberty

[BarnieTrk]

When I took the fuel line off the fuel pump (coming from the fuel tank), the gas was siphoning out quickly. I had to blow back into the line (to the tank) to stop the fuel from coming out.

Instead of getting a freaking out your tastebuds with gasoline, I'd suggest next time have a 3/8" bolt handy and jam it into the rubber fuel line to stop the flow.... Works for me!

BarnieTrk

[Garbz]

And stay away from NOS pumps.

Rich was spot on as modern blended fuels will eat one up in a few weeks. the rubber and seals are not ment for the chemical additives in the fuel.


Garbz