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VeeDubWolf
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2010
Posts: 658
Location: Yakima, WA
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 Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2021 2:30 am Post subject: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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Hello all! Just wanting to share a handy find at my local ReStore. (Habitat for Humanity's construction/tools/misc thrift-store)
I went there for parts to a different project and while I was wandering around I saw a number of things that must have been donated from an estate sale or a shop clean-out.
Namely, a bunch of gun-maintenance gear, old tools, and a pile of NOS fuel-pumps for a large variety of vehicles, including three for an Air-cooled VW!
That day I just bought two of them (for $6.50 each) and left the third in case another person with an old VW might come by. (I've seen a number around my area)
When I got them home, I did a little research and found they resembled some aftermarket pumps that were known to have issues with excess flashing.
Looking at the outside, this was already clear, as whatever mold they were made from were obviously worn and/or poorly aligned.
Still, they're far from unusable, all the rubber is supple, and they're in better shape than anything I already had. (as far as condition, at least)
So I took them both apart and filed, trimmed, or otherwise removed all the excess flashing and sharp edges from the castings.
One feature of these not found on stock pumps, which I quite like, is a rubber seal around the diaphragm rod that that sockets into the casting and prevents gas from flowing into your oil in the case of diaphragm failure!
The rubber stopper seen on the diaphragm rod here:
It sockets into this well that doesn't exist in other pumps (also notice the drain-hole for any leaked fuel, I added a second on the other side):
Over a week later I was back at the ReStore, again for a different project, and I found the third was still there so I picked it up too.
The pictures are of this third pump before I cleaned it up, the other two were in similar condition before I corrected them.
Now, for the photos of all the issues I found, first the excess flashing:
In this one you can see tapping-flash and where there were pockets of air in the casting by where the bolt-holes were going to be:
Then there's the biggest issue, a malformation, mis-punched hole, or damage caused by improper assembly where the diaphragm has one of the holes for the screws that retain the top half. A potential leak:
I think I can fix it with some kind of sealant at that location when doing final assembly of the two halves, but we'll see how it turns out.
Then just some general notes on design and appearance, like a pink spring for the pivot-arm:
The non-stock design of the poppet-valves and their seats:
The surprisingly well-fitted brass filter-screen under the top cap:
The steel pivot arm and the poorly-retained single-dimpled pin:
I'm making an assembly fixture from a 2x4 block, two mounting-bolts, and a third bolt in a threaded insert to set the tension of the diaphragm before final assembly of the two halves.
That's all for tonight, no idea how old these pumps are or who sold them but I'm going to make of them what I can. Goodnight and keep Buggin'! 
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Two Bugs-
'70 rust-bucket sunroof sedan
'69 PO hack-job special
-Plus a wide assortment of various parts'n'junk |
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goober
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2003
Posts: 1240
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2021 7:12 am Post subject: Re: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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A man after my own heart.
So I take it the lever pins were just pressed in?
Are you going to make some kind of retaining clip or restraint?
Good find. Some of us enjoy these kinds of finds.
Makes me feel like I'm beating the system.  |
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APPLEGREENVW
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2003
Posts: 2557
Location: Seekonk,Massachusetts USA
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mukluk
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012
Posts: 7452
Location: Clyde, TX
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2021 11:56 am Post subject: Re: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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Looks a lot like the currently available Airtex 1071 pump.
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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gt1953
Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2002
Posts: 13948
Location: White Mountains Arizona
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2021 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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The press pin could work its way out like mine almost did so had to do something and made a lil pin blocker for both sides, front and rear.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.
72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold}) |
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VeeDubWolf
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2010
Posts: 658
Location: Yakima, WA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2021 11:20 pm Post subject: Re: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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| goober wrote: |
So I take it the lever pins were just pressed in?
Are you going to make some kind of retaining clip or restraint? |
Yes, with one end dimpled/center-punched to make it too big to pass through the body and the other end non-dimpled. There was a groove for a C-clip/E-clip towards the other end but it was too far from the tip, hidden within the body, and impossible to use/unused.
I could have, but I chose to get a shoulder-bolt that fit tightly in the holes and I'll use that with a nylon-insert lock-nut.
| APPLEGREENVW wrote: |
| How long will the diaphragm last with today's fuels? |
No idea, but I guess there's one way to find out! (once I build an engine to use it on)
I suppose I could attempt coating the fuel-side of a diaphragm with ethanol-resistant flexible sealant, since I may have to use sealant on the defects by the bolt-holes anyhow. Any advice on a good sealant for at least the latter would be welcome.
| mukluk wrote: |
| Looks a lot like the currently available Airtex 1071 pump. |
Airtex! Yes, that was the one that came up when I searched for information on these. They certainly could be Airtex units. Although unused, they appear to have been at least partially taken apart by a previous owner, by the screwdriver marks on some screws. Maybe they were shelved after the extent of the flashing issues were discovered? Will never know.
| gt1953 wrote: |
| The press pin could work its way out like mine almost did so had to do something and made a lil pin blocker for both sides, front and rear. |
Dang, that's really clever! Could be easily made with limited tools, too.
I didn't even consider that possibility, I just upgraded to shoulder-bolts immediately. But that would be a very workable solution for those on a tight budget and/or those that prefer to use as many original parts as possible. (like Mustie1 does on his just-for-fun will-it-run revivals)
The nylock nuts are a good idea too, no vibrating loose.
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Two Bugs-
'70 rust-bucket sunroof sedan
'69 PO hack-job special
-Plus a wide assortment of various parts'n'junk |
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oc92
Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2005
Posts: 530
Location: NC
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| Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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(let me just add here that Musty1 seems like a damn cool and talented guy)
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Floating VW
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015
Posts: 1624
Location: The South Zone
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2021 8:55 am Post subject: Re: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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| VeeDubWolf wrote: |
| mukluk wrote: |
| Looks a lot like the currently available Airtex 1071 pump. |
Airtex! Yes, that was the one that came up when I searched for information on these. They certainly could be Airtex units. Although unused, they appear to have been at least partially taken apart by a previous owner, by the screwdriver marks on some screws. Maybe they were shelved after the extent of the flashing issues were discovered? Will never know. . . |
Yeah, it's an Airtex. I've had one on my machine for about 13 years now. It's a well-designed piece, in my opinion.
To answer the question of how long it will last with today's fuels, mine has been going strong for 13 years so far, and the diaphragm is still as pliable as the day I bought it. There are a few short-comings in the manufacturing of it, however. All of them are easily rectified, though:
As noted above, the pivot pin lacks a mechanical means of securing it in place. There are many ways to fix this; in mine, I simply replaced the pin with a hardened bolt and a nylock nut (if you do this, make sure to use a bolt with a long shoulder, so the pivot arm doesn't ride on the threads of the bolt). I also had both the steel inlet and outlet tubes pull from the casing after a few years of constant use. Tapping them back in with a dab of JB weld on the ends prevented that from happening again. The only problem you might find tricky to solve is the slightly higher pressure they put out. Mine put out about 5 psi, which is right on the upper limit. I used a Holley fuel pressure regulator set at 2.75 psi to cure that.
And you're right, the design for preventing gasoline from leaking into the engine case is pure genius. It's the main reason I decided to stick with the Airtex instead of an original, rebuilt Pierburg.
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Lingwendil
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Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 3999
Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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kreemoweet
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2008
Posts: 4104
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2021 10:38 am Post subject: Re: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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| Floating VW wrote: |
| And you're right, the design for preventing gasoline from leaking into the engine case is pure genius. It's the main reason I decided to stick with the Airtex instead of an original, rebuilt Pierburg |
Umm, every old VW/Pierburg pump I've ever seen had that same dam around the diaphragm rod opening.
For that matter, so has every aftermarket pump I've taken apart, too. It's sort of a necessary
feature to keep the spring & rod located properly.
I've also come across several old Pierburg pumps that had the rubber rod bushing/seal. It's possible they
were replacement diaphragm assemblies. They really make it tough to take the assemblies apart, for
instance to replace incorrect springs. The AirTex 1071 I got gave WAY too much pressure, but worked OK
after I switched the spring with one from an original Pierburg.
Lots of info about the AirTex pumps here: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
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VeeDubWolf
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2010
Posts: 658
Location: Yakima, WA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2021 9:33 pm Post subject: Re: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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| kreemoweet wrote: |
Umm, every old VW/Pierburg pump I've ever seen had that same dam around the diaphragm rod opening.
For that matter, so has every aftermarket pump I've taken apart, too. It's sort of a necessary feature to keep the spring & rod located properly.
I've also come across several old Pierburg pumps that had the rubber rod bushing/seal. It's possible they were replacement diaphragm assemblies. |
Oh? I'd forgotten about that, been years since I took an OG pump apart.
The rubber seal/plug does seem to be uncommon with the not-yet-rebuilt OG pumps. (probably not many around anymore aside from NOS units with suspect rubber due to age)
Thanks for the link!
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Two Bugs-
'70 rust-bucket sunroof sedan
'69 PO hack-job special
-Plus a wide assortment of various parts'n'junk |
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Floating VW
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015
Posts: 1624
Location: The South Zone
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| Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:35 am Post subject: Re: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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| VeeDubWolf wrote: |
| kreemoweet wrote: |
Umm, every old VW/Pierburg pump I've ever seen had that same dam around the diaphragm rod opening.
For that matter, so has every aftermarket pump I've taken apart, too. It's sort of a necessary feature to keep the spring & rod located properly.
I've also come across several old Pierburg pumps that had the rubber rod bushing/seal. It's possible they were replacement diaphragm assemblies. |
Oh? I'd forgotten about that, been years since I took an OG pump apart.
The rubber seal/plug does seem to be uncommon with the not-yet-rebuilt OG pumps. (probably not many around anymore aside from NOS units with suspect rubber due to age)
Thanks for the link! |
Same here.
I must have been thinking of the later style and Brazilian made pumps. I've heard so many stories of leaking diaphragms causing the case to fill with up gasoline, I guess my brain just figured they all had that problem.
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VeeDubWolf
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2010
Posts: 658
Location: Yakima, WA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: No-name USA-made mech fuel-pump with flashing issues and more- |
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Still could be an issue if a pump didn't have the rubber sealing plug for whatever reason, the lip/dam can only do so much and the same goes for the singular drain-hole. But, I imagine it might be possible to retrofit a DIY plug to a diaphragm in some cases. I probably wouldn't drill a secondary drain-hole in an original/Pierburg pump, but on an aftermarket pump anything goes!
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'69 PO hack-job special
-Plus a wide assortment of various parts'n'junk |
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