I had started to notice an erratic drip from the driven fuel pump. I went ahead and tried tighten the packing nut but I couldn't seem to find the nice medium where the drip would stop but the pump wouldn't start to heat and bind. I decided that the pump probably just needed to be re-packed because the packing had gotten old and hard.
Before embarking on this task I thought it was wise to ask for the advice of Pat Farrell to see if Teflon packing was the right product for the job. He gave me a good run down of possible issues that could arise with the fuel pump. The pump shaft could be worn down like the neck of a coke bottle. It could be mounted off center so that the shaft wears heavily on one side and The packing could be shot. He also reminded me that because I run high percentage of gasoline for my main burner, the heating of the fuel pump could cause it to vapor lock.
With all this in mind I disconnected all of the lines and "H" casting only to find that my fuel pump has all the issues that Pat had mentioned above. The pump shaft is a real mess being that it is worn both on the plunger portion as well as where it goes through the stay. It was made out of brass which isn't the the most durable material. I'll be replacing it with steel in hopes it will improve its longevity. Over the next month I'll be stripping it out of the car and rebuilding it.
Blog
A blog about my the history, acquisition and operation of my 1911 Model 62 Stanley Steamer.
