My First Breakdown (the rig that is, long read)

[HingsingM37]

Planning to attend the dedication and concert at the Ohio Veterans Memorial Park Saturday with the truck I dedcided to go fuel up Friday night. I hopped in and headed to the station about 1.5 miles down the road. Now mind you I failed to take my phone. I pulled in to the station and headed inside. Now I had a fuel gift card for $30, and then wanted to add another $20 cash, the kid inside said "Oh, well I can't do that, ahhh, you'll have to pump the gift card amount then come back in and pay the cash and pump that" Oy, I thought. I could feel my blood pressure starting to go throught the roof. This set the pace for the rest of the night.

So after my 15 minute gas station ordeal I fired the truck up. It was about 90 degrees out and upon occasion on hot restart I have had to play the throttle just right. She fired up just fine.

I pull out and start rolling, about 30 seconds later the engine drops off "sputter, run, sputter, run..sputter.pop. .died..." MMM, perhaps the vapor lock gremlins have finally struck I thought. However in the back of my mind I thought about all of the parades I did in 95 degrees and never had a problem? I got a sick feeling, then I realized I did not have my cell phone to boot. I coasted into a parking lot at a local transmission shop. I let if sit about 2 minutes, cranked it , it ran for two seconds and died. Tried again, nothing. Now I had told the wife I would be right back, so surley she would come looking after a half hour or so right?

I raised the hood and got my tools out. The fuel sediment bowl (remember I put the civvy pump on last year) was full. I disconected the line at the carb, bone dry I wrapped a rag around the line and cranked her switch off, I went to check and not a drop of fuel.Well, at least I knew what it was, a fuel issue. About this time Walt, the owner of the transmission shop came out, he had still been working. I told him what was going on , kindly he went back in and brought out a squirt bottle of fuel. I dumped some down the air horn, at this point I am still thinking vapor lock of sorts, the engine fired up and ran about 10 seconds, no fuel came out of the line. Shoot, by this time the engine was cool, it would have started to pump gas by now with the line off had it been vapor locked About 50 minutes had passed since I left the house, looking up the road, I did not see the wifes jeep coming to look for me...It was getting dark, about 8:30. Walt let me use his phone. "hello, I broke down, I need you to come get me so I can grab more tools and my spare fuel pump".

Ten minutes later (the house is 4 mins from the station ) the wife arrived and back to the house I went. I pulled my OEM pump off my spare block and some line wrenches. I also set the two long OEM pump bolts on the bench to take knowing how easy it would make the install laying on my back in a parking lot. I then went to grab some 3/8 sockets and a ratchet. Back to the truck I went.

Holding the mag light I began to loosen the splash shield and then the pump bolts. I had used shorter ones on the civvy pump. At this point my head was exploding thinking
I may not make it to the Saturday ceremony after promising I would bring the truck out for display. I am lying on my back with a flashlight having to change my fuel pump. All the time thinking the worst, "what if it is the cam lobe...this could be a futile attempt..)My head was ready to explode

Mary was kind enough to offer to hold the light, but we all know how well that always works..After about 10 minutes, which seemed like eternity, the old pump was off. The cam lever just flopped loosely, this was a relief know knowing for sure it was the pump. Something failed inside. Groovy.

Walt had come back out to check on my progress, he saw my light and said hang on. He brought out a 18 volt LED with base, much better. He was a kind man to help like that. I go to install my spare pump. Carefully I removed the gasket to get it off in one peice. Success. I packed the gasket cement and placed it on the spare pump. I went to grab the long bolts....ahhh, remember when I grabbed the ratchet at the house?, that distraction left the bolts sitting on my workbench. I sent the wife back to the house with a description of the item...luckily she returned with the right bolts. It was going on 10PM. After fiddling around and getting aggravated for about 10 minutes, I determined the cam must be in the high side. I cranked the starter briefly and went back underneath. The pump fit closer and the bolts threaded right in. I snugged it up. Now for the lines. Amazingly with a little prayer and only a flashlight, I got the hose and stee line threaded somewhat easily without crossthreading.

I double checked all my connections, at this point the last thing I needed was a leak and fire. I hit the prime lever and felt the pressure build. A slight smile came to my face after very choice words earlier. I climbed behind the wheel, switch on, I pressed the start pedal and she roared to life I gathered up my tools cursing out the pump that was less than a year old. I thanked Walt for his help and was home by 10:30. The wife scolded me for not taking my phone. She figured I ran into somebody and was jabbering.. I let it go at that. I see an electric pump in my future We made it Saturday to the ceremonies just fine. I will post pics later

[T. Highway]

David,

Sounds like you had quite the interesting adventure. I'm glad to hear that you figured out the problem and got your M back on the road. If this would of been a modern car you would of had to call AAA.

I guess you confused the kid at the gas station with cash and a gift card.

I also have planned ahead to have an electric fuel pump inline, just for this type of problem.

Bert

[Tanner]

Trips like this are why my cellphone takes it's place next to my wallet & car/house keys on my desk... I don't leave home w/o the phone.

Congrats on getting the beast back to life!

'Tanner'

[W_A_Watson_II]

Glad it was a straight forward fix (not I didn't say easy). It's amazing how un-flexable the fueling pumps/stations have become. I hate it when they stop at $75 or $100 and don't let me pump any more with out stopping them and then re-starting the pump with a new card, just to I can pump in the last couple of gallons needed to to off the tank.

[Cal_Gary]

David, I can see all of that in my mind as it unfolded since you told it so well! Nice to have the knowledge to diagnose and figure it out (and the Alzheimer's as well for forgetting the phone and the bolts)! I've only had electric pumps on mine (12V you know) and the original electric on mine died as I was coasting into my apartment garage last year. That taught me to never trust any component on this truck that I hadn't already repaired or replaced-these are the items that always get me stalled or stranded....

Glad you're back up and running-would love to see the display pix!
Gary

[k8icu]

If you ever get up to my part of town I'll tell you the story of my M35A2 injector pump going out near Findley. After wrenching on these things for almost 30 years I've decided to not think worst case until it proves to be worst case. It just gives you an alcer...

Glad it was a realitve easy fix and not like having to change the transmission kind of fix.

[HingsingM37]

Thanks for the comments guys.
Well I took a look at the failed pump, and something I did not notice in the dark was the roll pin for the cam lever was backed out!
I took the roll pin and ground a little off allowing me to stake and peen over the casting the ends to prevent it from drifting out again
Joe, yes it is sad I have not made it up there yet to your place yet. I have only been trying for what , 2 plus years?
I think we need to set a date in Sept

[k8icu]

David your schedule is probably more flexible than mine... But PM me some dates and we'll see what we can do.

If you have been able to peen the pin over and repaired the pump then it sounds like you still have a spare for just such an emergency. When I use to run around in any of my old MVs I would always have points, plugs, cap, rotor, fuel pump, belts and hoses in an ammo can just stored in the truck along with a small tool kit and whether I was running to the store or driving to an event I took the spares kit with me. If it didn't fit in the ammo can it didn't go with me.

[MSeriesRebuild]

Hey David, not a one of us that haven't been there. I guess for me it was a good thing, since those memories are what has sparked me to be so thorough on the trucks we rebuild now.

You mentioned an electric fuel pump; a customer of ours a while back had this comment when making his decision for an electric pump over the original mechanical pump. His words,"an electric pump can fail and leave me stranded on the road side; a mechanical pump can fail and leave me stranded, it can also have a cracked diaphragm dumping gas into the oil pan and destroying the lower end of my engine." I would rather be stranded with an electric pump failure was his assessment. He had a valid point. I would rather have the electric pump myself, all points considered. They aren't that expensive so you can carry a spare, and they are easy to change out. My experience has been that electric pumps are also far less prone to failure than a mechanical pump.

If you gotta have that mechanical pump; remove the activation arm, remount it in the engine without gas routed through it. Install a good electric pump in an unsightly area back next to the tank, you'll have a much more reliable truck as far as fuel issues go.

No phone, lots of fond memories there from the days before cell phones existed. I've walked MANY miles when break downs would occur with no other way to make anything happen. Many fond memories of the good old days I had, also many fond memories of luxuries we all enjoy today.

I loved living in the old home place at the intersection of Hyw 731 and the unpaved road that ran along only 20 feet from the west side of the house. No A/C and dust it was during the summer blowing all through the house with windows raised and doors open. I loved every minute, but I'd hate to have to eat dust like that again as a way of life like it used to be.

[Wayne64]

First I'll comment on the pump. Go electric if no other reason than this 10% Ethanol we are stuck with. Got my truck with a real boot legged install of a 12v one under the hood. It worked fine BTW. Now since I've had the cab and box off I now have a 24v one back in the rear frame rail. Filter before pump and another up by the carb.
Here is something to think about, carry a 1 gallon can with a barbed fitting brazed in bottom. Carry a short piece of hose and if either type of pump takes a dump gravity feed the carb. to get home. OR since most have a 5 gallon can on the fender for looks, pop a nipple in the bottom of that to do the same. Leave it empty till needed, I found if your ready you never need to use it.
Next is forgetting the cell, being a bit crippled at this point I always carry mine. So when do I forget it, yup a break down. But unlike yours I was 8 miles away from where I launched my boat. It seems I burnt out the electric clutch on my Pro-Drive O/B with only 26 hours on it. To make it worse my Lady was with me, sure wish I had ear plugs.

[HingsingM37]

Thanks for all the food for thought. I will be getting that electric pump installed during the off season. I know fuel flow has been discussed here before but what PSI do I need to have at the carb?

[MSeriesRebuild]

Thanks for all the food for thought. I will be getting that electric pump installed during the off season. I know fuel flow has been discussed here before but what PSI do I need to have at the carb?

We have found 4 psi to be optimum.

[HingsingM37]

Thanks Charles