Fuel pump?

[Canoetom85 21]

Hi all,

 

How do I know if my fuel pump on my 1977 c-120 is not working properly? I seem to be having an intermittent issue where it runs great for a bit and then all of a sudden like it’s starving for fuel. It will keep running if I put choke on and sometimes goes back to running fine other times it won’t. the next time I try to start it it fires up just fine other times I need to pour a little gas in the cylinder as the spark plug is dry. I put in new fuel

filter already. 
 

thanks 

[wallfish 16,996]

32 minutes ago, Canoetom85 said:

 

How do I know if my fuel pump on my 1977 c-120 is not working properly?

Pull the fuel line off of the carb and direct it into an empty bottle or something. Have someone turn the key and fuel should pump into the bottle. If the engine starts have them ready to turn it off right away.

Little to no fuel, little to no pump working.

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,041]

Make sure the hood has not worn the vent in the center of the gas cap enough to seal it off.

[ebinmaine 67,471]

2 hours ago, Canoetom85 said:

. I put in new fuel

filter already

What's the age of the entire fuel line?

 

Do you use ethanol free gas?

 

Has the carb been rebuilt lately?

 

 

[953 nut 55,218]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

What's the age of the entire fuel line? The fuel line is a rather inexpensive maintenance item that should be done at least every five years.

 

Do you use ethanol free gas? Ethanol has been known to ruin many fuel systems, to find ethanol free gas use this website, https://www.pure-gas.org/

Fuel pumps are a rather binary thing, they either work or don't. Since you say the engine generally starts right up it is probably good. The fuel cap vent will cause an engine to starve for fuel if it is plugged. As gas is removed from the tank it will develop a slight vacuum that the pump can't overcome if the vent is not allowing air in.