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Q & A: Leaking Fuel

Dear John,
1. Ten years ago you did extensive work on my TD (I think the car was in your shop for several months in 1994). It has run very well since then. Thank you again for the fine work your shop did.
I have run into a problem that I have not been able to solve and wondered if you might have a suggestion for me. About a month ago I noticed that fuel was leaking from the fuel pump. It seemed to be coming from the seam between the pump body and the magnet housing. I removed the pump and inspected it. The pump fuel filter had considerable debris in it so I cleaned that. I ordered a new gasket and new filter and replaced those. I think I followed properly the instructions in the workshop manual about reassembling the pump body and magnet housing. After reassembly, the pump seems to work fine and the car runs well. However, after the car has sat for an hour or so in the garage, I notice that there is a little seapage of fuel on the bottom edge of the seam between pump body and magnet housing.
Can you give me any suggestions?

2. Thanks very much, John. It was the gasket between the intermediate housing and the diaphragm that I replaced, but I'll take a closer look at the other.

I may need to turn to Tom Ball in Akron. Have you a phone number for him?

I've also seen a listing in the Sacred Octagon for "Britsh Car Part Restoration Company." Do you have any experience with them?

Thanks very much.
Alex Ross

Alex,
1. I think you're on the right track here, and I'll bet that the surfaces are slightly warped, making a seal very difficult -- or, worse, there is a problem with the diaphragm. You know, there is that gasket between the two parts o... read more