TROUBLESHOOTING: Why’s my new mechanical fuel pump, rattling?

Do you have a classic or older car equipped with a mechanical fuel pump? Did you recently replace the pump for preventative maintenance or repair and find that the new pump is now emitting an audible ticking, tapping or knocking noise? Well then this is the video for you!
Support the channel by using the affiliate link below!
Spectra Pump for Ford 400/351M: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Delphi Pump for Ford 400/351M: amzn.to/30IseWi

[@robertgarcia6212]

Thanks for the video. I have to replace my fuel pump on my 1977 Ford Country Squire 400cl. 2 barrel. The fuel pump is identical to yours on the video. Now I know what to watch out for when I purchase it from the autoparts. Thanks.

[@sdjgfashjasbfasd]

I just installed a Spectra pump in my 289. It made the ticking noise so I had to remove it and see what's up. I could reproduce the sound by pumping it by hand. The sound was coming from the valve area. There was a blob of grease just inside the housing where the arm goes in, but the grease never touched any moving parts. I took an acid brush and some more grease and reached inside to spread it around. Worked the pump by hand a few times and it went away.

[@rickrosado4047]

Realized the spring was missing before Installing it and was curious as 2 way. Looed it up and there you were telling me why and saving me time !! So.....very helpful!! Thank you!!

[@amateurdesubaru]

when I was young I had a 350 camaro 1978 and I got stuck on the side of the road because of the pump. I was told by a old man the same thing you said : regardless of the usage of the pump change it every spring it s cheaper than a towing. I got a 1 ton gmc k27 1982 too but I replaced the mechanical pump with 2 electric ones in parrallel with switches and check valves( I needed something worthy to travel the backwoods of quebec)... However japanese mechanical pumps are good forever , I ve been driving 4wd tercel 83-87 for the last 1/4 century and have salvaged a lot of them and have never seen a fuel pump fail nor did I salvaged a tercel with a defect pump( all are original nippo denso stamped (N.D.)). I have a box of 7 spare pumps(they re average 35 years old ) that I change every 6 months or so to ensure they keep wet and don t suffer anchylosis...I m 45 when I was young on my street a neighbor had the same continental but it was that horrible institutional light green/turquoise with the chrome diamond on the landau and the rear windows ! popping headlight are so cool too bit like my 240sx. something we don t see anymore. cool video , nice car

[@FloridafishingwithRick]

Mannnnn ol mannnnn. I've been chasing and chasing this. Thought it was the pump. But being that it was all lower end noise I wasn't sure. You the man.

[@devcap]

Spectacular Lincoln!

[@Gadgetdad007]

Thanks Cutan 👍

[@georgek2409]

Thanks for This. I just now have the same issue with a new Delphi pump! It is the second Delphi, since the first leaked badly from the flange at the outlet. I couldn't believe the pump was noisy! Chevy 327, 1964 Vette - - - change it again I guess - - - GOOD VIDEO!

[@kermitefrog64]

I was surprised to find a mechanical fuel pump on the shelf at O'Reilly's for my 1964 Ford Pickup F250.

[@mrvallejodave]

I just installed a Carter pump and it taps like crazy. Thanks for doing this video.

[@ctuan13]

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with the same issue I did, but I'm happy you found my video helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@ilpokorpinen4550]

Good video. Thanks!

[@DougC1Challenger]

Great info thank you

[@PhillyDee215]

Great video 👍

[@shawnp7215]

And it can chew the cam up..... witnessed this on a small block Chevy.... Great catch.

[@alfredotrivinopineiro2870]

Thank you for the awesome explanation! I had the upper and lwoer control arm replaced, since then I have this issue: the engine starts, then dies after 2 seconds, the second start it runs normal. That rattling sound is exactly what there is, and I think the mechanical fuel pump got "moved" so to speak, and hpefully I only have to tighten the mounting screws. Maybe the spring got damaged as you have described with the Carter pump. Do you think it might be possible due to a hit from the control arm or a tool while working on the control arm?

[@ssdeuce]

Thank you! I was about to pull my 283 engine

[@clifftonicstudios7469]

Nice vid, tryin to Fix my 59 Hilman Minx Saloon

[@williamhopkins3818]

Just boughta 1967 Caprice and the previous owner said it kept cutting off, but I drove it home 2 hrs. Now it is cutting off and starting back up. I know how terrible that ethanol is thanks!

[@michaelgilmore3038]

Though they 351 Clevland was a wrap in the mid 70's..... I Think You're a Cool Dude.... So I Certainly did subscribe 😊🏆

[@kristiandiaz3848]

I recently bought a Napa (Carter) mechanical fuel pump for my '79 Ford with a 302. After installing, I had the engine idling after a short time I began to hear the pump begin to make a rattling noise then became louder. I shut the engine off. I swapped a Delphi pump instead-it also makes noise but not as loud as the Carter that I had before.

[@johnmayer158]

Thank you for explaining the pump and its interactions with the cam. Question: will more modern replacement pumps diaphragm tolerate the ethanol in fuels today, or are they still built like original?

[@vincemajestyk9497]

You know, that's a good question. I would think that the recent replacements have rubber formulated for ethanol blends but I'm not sure that it matters too much. I just changed out the pump on my daily driver and I put a 1980's NOS Carter pump on 10 years ago. Just recently I rebuilt the carb and after I put it all back together it wouldn't pick up the gas. Changed the pump and it was fine. There was just a dribble coming out. I think once the rubber is submerged in gas it's OK until it the gas drains back and it get exposed. There are places that sell rebuilding kits that have ethanol resistant 'rubber' in the kits. That would be for the rebuildable pumps that are screwed together. These crimped ones are throwaways. I have one car that I ran only Sunoco race gas through and wasn't run in years. The rubber on that pump was hard as a rock. Couldn't even move the arm. Way worse than any ethanol pump I ever had.

[@EmmaDeshommes-bj6mc]

Les reponses en francais s'il vous plait

[@edgarherrera5085]

Mine makes a ticking/tapping and I have already replaced it twice and now possibly a 3rd time because it just started again because it making the noise. But I have come across a fuel pump that has a spring under the arm to the base where it bolts to the side of block. A post thread I made in a cadillac forum says I need to replace or update the eccentric on the camshaft?

[@TheDrunkardHu]

At this point, why aren't there ethanol resistant fuel delivery components for our old beauties?

[@jamesharris5232]

They build carburetors and offer update kits for old ones that still need rebuilt. Other things, it's beyond me but most likely how throwing a cam and headers on your engine, everyone junks the mechanical pump and tosses an electric fuel pump on.

[@R3TR0--93]

will the noise go away eventually are some use?

[@jimgee2676]

my pump is making the clacking noise ...it works fine ,,,can i leave it in ....also on my other car the pump aint making noise but its now pushing 10 psi instead of the 6 psi it used to push and it flooding my carb

[@rldaniel8706]

I have a 1971 302 what makes the fuel pump with a filter on it makes a noise were the one that doesn't have a filter how come it well not make a noise

[@kerrykurschinsky2451]

I've had alot of problem's with the Carter pump's,.... 4 of them.. in the last 6 month's (300-6 cylinder.."86" Ford F-150),.. I'm getting "the rattle"... but after about 4-6 week's.. they just quit pumping,.. there's gotta be a bettef pump........

[@ctuan13]

Well, on my Continental, I've generally had good luck with Spectra pumps. Maybe check if they make a pump for your truck.

[@hailtothe_rooster1572]

I just got a new spectre pump and it ticks like crazy. I replaced my tank and sending unit, my old pump was fine but swapped it anyway. Started looking into why… good/bad I’ll run it for a while but swap it out soon

[@ctuan13]

Hmm, maybe the spectra quality is slipping as well. I'd definitely get the pump changed out soon!

[@palmermarini720]

Does my 1950 nash have a rod to cam lobe to the fuel pump

[@GracieT69]

How do you repair it?

[@kaloosh2639]

Did you ever open it up?

[@michaelgilmore3038]

The 351C was canceled in the mid 70s

[@geebopbaluba1591]

My 66 f100 makes that noise and I even changed it and the new one started do it soon after the engine warmed up.

[@ctuan13]

Well that sucks man, I'm sorry. These Chinese made pumps just seem to be lacking in quality. Have you tried a spectra pump? Was the one you were using, a carter?

[@geebopbaluba1591]

ctuan13 I actually bought 1 and it failed pretty quickly actually less than a couple of hundred miles and I bought another one from auto zone and it’s been in the truck for several thousand miles and it ticks just as well but not like the first one I bought on eBay that had like a 1/4” play. I don’t remember the brand name on either one.

[@reinvnt]

$22 dollar pump....I wish! I just bought a carter pump (Vacuum wiper outlets) for my 67 Bronco running a 170 CI motor.......from Napa..... $140!

[@dougcoleburn1579]

My carter pump is very noisy. Tap tap tap. Now when I step on the gas to accelerate hard I hear a horrible metal rattle noise. Wondering if the pump is coming apart. Wont do it in idle when you rev it. Just under a load. 69 Ford 302. Thanks

[@nicholaslandolina]

Doug Coleburn your running Keuotoo

[@dgoldman2846]

YOOOOOOO Where did you buy this car from???? Kansas City?????

[@AllCityBaller30]

Question I have a 1979 Lincoln Continental Town Car 400cu In have engine surging issues I replaced the fuel filter and clean the carburetor with cleaner made sure all vacuum hoses and hoses are connected. Made sure all work plus and wires are not loose and on tight. I timed the engine to specific specs.What else can cause engine surging?

[@ctuan13]

Well carburetor repair often requires more than just cleaning with carb cleaner. Not to mention a carb cleaner can often damage rubber components. I'd check the main jets to see if they're clear, I'd check the power valve and power valve gasket to see if they're leaking and also check float level and needle and seat function. Any of those things could be causing an issue, hard to say what exactly is wrong. Does the surging dissapear under throttle or if you raise the RPM in park?

[@ogjackson1222]

The fuel pump is clogged an no longer give proper pressure it flows but not enough is passing tru the rubber seal

[@BigBadJones]

I have a 83 jeep cj7 and I have gone through 3 pumps and none of them have lasted more than about 5 minutes before they just stop pumping. I'm at my wits end.

[@ozelot250]

I just replaced mechanical fuel pump on my mercruiser 3.0 4 cylinder powered boat. I now have a really loud noise that wasn’t there before I replaced pump. Now I’m wondering if this is the source of noise. Engine runs fine just loud noise that wasn’t there before pump replaced.

[@lsswappedcessna]

My '66 Oldsmobile has made a ticking since I've had it. Not loud, rattles at certain RPMs. I've checked everything I can and the engine shaking spooked me a bit. I listened closer and now think it's the fuel pump. I replaced it not long after I got the car because the old one failed, and the new pump seemed fine. The arm was very tight like it's supposed to be, but it makes total sense since the very small amount of play in it and the metal-on-metal contact (though lubricated) would cause a rhythmic (not random) tick. The rattle could just be a pulley bearing or loose component complaining somewhere (old cars just gonna rattle sometimes) and the shaking is likely bad fuel or plugs causing a very small misfire (like, the exhaust sounds fine and power delivery is unchanged). Crisis averted I guess. Should track down the loose component or old bearing though.

[@rldaniel8706]

I have a 1971f100 Ford truck ok how come fuel pumps makes a noise it's the one with a filter on the one's that don't have the filter don't make that noise

[@centralscrutinizer76]

I use Delphi fuel pumps . No problems

[@bayareakat66]

I just bought one. Still not getting fuel to go to the carb. Any ideas?

[@centralscrutinizer76]

@@bayareakat66 take fuel line going to carb off ,turn over engine and see if fuel coming out , make sure you don`t have fuel lines crossed

[@BigBadJones]

I bought Delphi pump and it failed in about 10 minutes. I don't think anyone is making quality pumps anymore.

[@jadenrhines234]

Is it damaging to leave it?

[@ctuan13]

If you've determined the sound is indeed the pump, it probably isn't too bad to leave it. But you wanna be absolutely sure the sound is coming from the pump and not some other external or internal engine component.

[@jadenrhines234]

ctuan13 I definitely know it’s the pump because you can grab the pump and feel it

[@courtneypannell563]

Carter is having issues with mech pumps all are failing due to rod breaking at top at least for amc cars

[@ctuan13]

Oh really?? Wow that is not cool. Good to know, though!

[@HarleyPotter]

​@@ctuan13 i would imagine that one possible cause for those lever breakages is that missing antifloat spring must cause excess stress on eccentic too. Just bought -69 comet wich has broken pump rod and been going thru videos changing eccentric. Some eccentrics seem to be very poor quality too. I think im going to go with electric pump and im not big fan of converting electric stuff on classic cars either. Great video and greetings from Finland

[@escdeerock6229]

im almost 100% sure mine is out in my 1979 impala. no gas to the carb what so ever

[@EmmaDeshommes-bj6mc]

Je veux une pompe pour une marchine gazoline,de moteur. B63,de l'annèe 1988 ?

[@michaelgilmore3038]

Ford held on to the 351W and the 351M /400 Motor for awhile.... at Your age .... I will excuse you Sir !

[@rickchambers73]

What your showing me with these 2 pumps. Your Carter pump is for a 289. Your Spectra pump is a 289 hi p.o.. 289 hi po pumps have stronger spring to ride that lobe at high rpms to prevent it from floating. Just as a car with a/c had better water pumps they had bigger impeller to move more water. Today these part places don't ask you questions like is it a hi p.o. or does it have a/c. Today aftermarket has come to 1 part fits all. So your spectra using a stronger spring like a hi p.o. pump, Carter is not. Old Retired Professional mechanic.

[@gates762x6]

My Scion FR-S mechanical fuel pump from Toyota is going to cost me $1,000

[@thedavesiknow4598]

Ouch!

[@michaelgermann9959]

Dr

[@1999C2996]

This could have been 3 minutes...

[@user-wv1pj6wh4h]

yes it a fuking bad unit, change one in 2 years?? try an electric pump. it primes the system advantage cheers..

[@michaelgilmore3038]

As far as I know the 351 CLEVLAND Motor ENDED in the Mid 70's.... Try to be more accurate YOUNG MAN

[@ctuan13]

"The Ford 400 engine was based on the 351 Cleveland but had a half-inch longer stroke than the 351 Cleveland." I appreciate the comment, but I always do my best to be accurate and I believe in this case I was.