short fuel pump

[rumb]

I am rebuilding a short fuel pump and as I was cleaning the center portion a small spring with a black cap attached t it came out unexpectedly. I am unsure if there was a ball bearing in the bottom of the hole or not.
If there is suppose to be one what size is it?

Thanks!

[jim 56]

As far as I know there is no ball bearing in the pump.If I get a chance later I will look at one that I have apart.

[BaronYoungman]

I have now rebuilt close to 250 short fuel pumps and the only Springs that are involved are the two Springs that are on the brackets that put pressure upon the brushes.  If you post a picture what it looks like I can tell you if it's one of those Springs they're very distinctive. But from taking so many of these apart I am never surprised what I find inside.Bob

[rumb]

Here are pictures.  Note if you remove the screw at the end of the round protrusion and blow in it the air comes out where the spring thing goes.  If you plug that end then you cant blow any air at all thru it.

[Aaron h]

This connection with the screw in it was designed to "T" into the return line to the fuel tank.  Its purpose was to help with hard starting vapor lock.  The spring and disc you refer to in your picture is a check valve to allow fuel/vapor/bubbles to flow in only one direction.  It's swedged in, and is not supposed to come out.  However, a lot of them end up clogging up so removal is often necessary.  It can be reinstalled safely by further swedging the already swedged tabs in some more.  And no, there is no ball bearing as part of the check valve.  Just the disc and spring . 

Baron, I've never seen one without this spring and disc.  Is this check valve something that you don't clean when you rebuild your pumps? 

[jim 56]

Baron do you someone who rewinds the armatures for these pumps.

[rumb]

Thanks Aaron. I saw the swedges and that was why I wasn't paying any attention to it when I was working on it.

[BaronYoungman]

I find that those pieces once you take them apart they never fit back up as well as they did from the factory no matter how carefully you try to reinstall so when I ultrasonically clean the parts it cleans that spring/disc then I just test that it has tension and moves without binding. When that part is sticking it becomes very difficult to get the pump properly bled of air.  Bob

[Aaron h]

I agree that the check valves don't fit back like the did when new if they're taken apart, so I made a tool/punch to make new swedges to hold it in.  It seems to have worked well on all of the pumps I've rebuilt. 

[BaronYoungman]

Yes I've got a gentleman that rewinds them because of the improving materials and the ability to wind them tighter with better tools I find that they are far superior to the original armatures.

[Scubadoc]

I find that those pieces once you take them apart they never fit back up as well as they did from the factory no matter how carefully you try to reinstall so when I ultrasonically clean the parts it cleans that spring/disc then I just test that it has tension and moves without binding. When that part is sticking it becomes very difficult to get the pump properly bled of air.  Bob

I recently resealed my short pump, and am in the process of reinstalling, is there a bleeding procedure I should follow?
Maybe this should be a new thread?

Thanks
Matt

[BaronYoungman]

Open the small screw that sticks out of the pump start the pump when starts gushing out without interruption screw back in the crush washerand screw.  Messy but best way to get out all the air.  Bob

[Scubadoc]

Thanks, I will try it when the hose arrives...
I didn’t make sure it was patent when I resealed the pump...
Fingers crossed!

[BaronYoungman]

Not that I recommend this because I absolutely would not recommend this but maybe before I had testing equipment and I had an empty but put together pump. With the bleeder screw closed .I would put my thumb over the outlet and blow very hard on the inlet to make sure that everything was sealed it's only approximately 2 PSI with good lungs but if you have a major problem it will show itself. Never I repeat never ever do this if you have gas or any other liquid in it only if it is bone dry. Actually you should never do it...wink..

[Scubadoc]

Understood.
Nudge nudge, wink wink.

Thanks again,
Matt