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Fuel pump suppressor

29K views 85 replies 10 participants last post by  shadow 11 
#1 ·
Hi, I'm confused about the fuel pump suppressor.

I've just fitted a new (prestige parts) SU dual fuel pump in my 1979 Silver Shadow 2.

The suppressor lead on the original pump was broken off right at the base so I got another suppressor which looks very similar and put it all together as per the attached photo and fitted it in the car. I haven't tested the new pump yet as I'm cleaning out the fuel tank and putting in new rubber fuel hoses.

Questions:
1. Does it matter if I don't know the capacitance of the new suppressor (original is 0.5MFD)? It's the same size and shape.
2. Am I right to connect the suppressor between the +ve terminal on the end of the pump and ground?
3. Does it matter if the new suppressor wire is connected to the terminal on the front end of the pump rather than the rear end as per the manual (I assume the +ve power supply is connected to and between both front and rear)?

Many thanks
Peter
 

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#2 ·
Capacitor lead is attached to the 12v pump supply and the metal tab on the capacitor body should be ground, ie under a bolt that is grounded. Value..anything under 1.0 mfd., most are 0.5 mfd
 
#3 ·
Hi Peter,


Do you know what model SU pumps you bought for replacement. ie Points based or the later electronic ones.


If the latter I don't think you need a surpressor as its primary function was just to give the points a longer life. However I have always been a little confused with the exterior ones fitted (my SS1 even has one for each pump). There was always an internal capacitor in circuit within the housing of the pumps which was later replaced with a diode.


It seems RR put these little exterior surpressors all over the car on anything electric maybe just to ensure no radio interference.


Not sure if anyone else has other views but seems a bit like 'belt and braces' to me on the fuel pumps.



All the best


Steve
 
#4 · (Edited)
Electronic pump - no capacitor.
Points pump - TVS. (Transient Voltage Suppressor). Part number 1.5KE24CA from any electronics shop. These are a bi-directional diode fitted between the + terminal and ground to protect the points from arcing and deteriorating. Usually fitted inside the caps, one each side. Capacitors (suppressors) in this application are old technology now, diodes are the way to go.
 
#5 ·
Hi Jim,


It is the additional exterior ones that always confused me as why they were also fitted to each pump on the SS1 then just a single one at SS11 despite having internal ones inside the pump housing whether capacitor/diode/TVS for the points life.


Steve
 
#6 ·
The suppressors on the outside of the fuel pumps and other electrical equipment were to block radio interference noise on AM radio waves. So if you still listen to AM radio you will need the outside suppressors. An old mechanics trick to test alternators was to tune the radio to a low spot on the AM band with no music and listen for a whine in the speakers when the engine is revved. A bad diode in the alternator will show up as a speed correlated whine.
 
#7 ·
Hi Steve,

I got the points based pump, the same as the original. I actually didn't know there was an electronic option that would work for the SS2. By the way do I need to prime the (currently dry) pump before using it and if so, how?

Wraithman and Jim, thank you too for your help on the suppressor. I'm a long way from worrying about radio interference but I'm reassured by your comments.

Bw
Peter
 
#8 · (Edited)
Peter.


Pratically there is no need to prime the SU fuel pump it is happy to pump air as well as fuel until it draws the fuel up.


However your car being a later model unlike mine, you have a safety cut out switch at the bottom front of the engine next to the oil light switch. This energises an LRA Lucas relay under the lower facia knee roll as it gives a ground until oil pressure is made by cranking the engine. You do not get 12v supply to the pumps until that relay loses it's ground on the relay coil.


This means you would probably flatten your battery cranking trying to get the fuel up to the carbs from a dry drained line.


If you remove the electrical connection from the switch at the engine not sure if it is the upper or lower one as they look the same but just remove both for now.


Then put your ignition switch to RUN no cranking. You should then hear the SU pumps ticking away loudly until they slow down the tick tick and then stop. At this point you should have the carb floats full of fuel. Put your wires back on the engine sensors then you should get the car started with little cranking.


Don't forget as it is cold weather now to follow the procedure for starting ie throttle to the floor and back up before cranking as this sets the automatic choke to operate correctly.


I pretty much gathered the suppressors (I call them capicitors as that is the correct electronics name..... the suppression is an action performed by them IMHO. My wife uses the kettle to water the plants so we don't call that a watering can!!!!!!!its still a kettle).


I wonder if RR even knew the SU pumps had their own internal ones. As I suspected just 'belt and braces' and I have one on each pump. The ones under the engine bay though look good on a detailed concours car. My friend polishes his up and they look like chrome.


I do use the AM band though around 975 to get the talksport channel when driving. Thankfully no whining so hopefully my alternator diodes are still good but a great tip from Jim that I never knew of.


All the best


Steve
 
#9 ·
However your car being a later model unlike mine, you have a safety cut out switch at the bottom front of the engine next to the oil light switch. This energises an LRA Lucas relay under the lower facia knee roll as it gives a ground until oil pressure is made by cranking the engine. You do not get 12v supply to the pumps until that relay loses it's ground on the relay coil.



While this might be correct, my 78 Shadow 11 SU pump, pumps as soon as the ignition is switched on.
On a really hot day, dont get many here, I hear the pump ticking away until carbs are full.
Probably another modification because cranking to get engine oil pressure to allow the pump to operate, good luck and have a very good battery!

Jake.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Jake,


I think whoever thought up the fuel pump safety circuit on the later RR/B cars must have been a novice IMHO.


It was probably a requirement that was needed to conform to some US legislation to have a fuel pump cut out in case of an accident.


At Jaguar/AM we fitted inertia ones in the circuit that tripped on impact.


The Rolls Royce design is rubbish. Why because if the wire comes off or a faulty pressure switch or an oxydised connection (common on Lucar terminals especially at the exposed front) or even a faulty LRA relay then the pumps will still work and there will be no 'fail safe' operation and yes as per your car the pumps will work like mine as soon as ignition is put to RUN position. I like that!!!!



Not sure the exact chassis number the mod was introduced but certainly was on the last car I worked on which was a few thousand less than Peters but after 30000. I think you actually helped me with a few things on that car.


The way to check is see if you have the two pressure switches at the front lower LHS of engine or just the one. If 2 then it is up to you whether you want to sort it as for sure the idea of having to crank away when the car has been left unused for a while again does not seem RR really thought this design out very well.


PS I thought you were in SUNNY SUFFOLK



All the best


Steve
 
#11 ·
Hi Steve

I did what you suggested (having cleaned out the tank and replaced the flexible hoses) and it worked, right up until fuel started pouring from the weakening device filter (photo).

Does this mean a new filter or is it a more sinister sign?

Thanks
Peter
 

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#13 · (Edited)
Peter,


Good to see you got the pumps working.



Sadly I am not that familiar with the later carbs and all the extra gizmos' that were added that can create various problems. The earlier SU carbs and fuel systems on UK cars were very simple. You have a lot of different parts now added into the fuel system. It certainly wont be a fault with the filter canister that is just full of charcoal it will be what is allowing fuel into that line. For now disconnect the pipe to it and avoid further saturation and it should dry out OK.



I suggest you start a new thread specific to this issue and place several close up pictures so someone might spot any errors in piping. Be absolutely sure the fuel is coming out of that canister and not the pipe that is the fuel overflow which runs down close by.



I am sure it will be a problem someone has had before and be able to direct you to sticking floats/damaged floats/shut of needles/stuck solenoids or other possible causes.


Keep safe with any fuel over the exhaust manifold.


Steve
 
#17 ·
Sorry I meant the safety cut out switch at the bottom front of the engine that allows the fuel pump to prime to the carburettors. I think the overflow valve just released fuel through the weakener filter. The video you put up seems to confirm that. Anyway, it started up and ran smoothly for the first time in a very long time, so thank you!

More to do, though.

Peter
 
#18 ·
Peter,


That is quite interesting really as little information actually on the schematics regarding the relay wiring and just shows a contact break/make on the drawing.


I don't think there is other circuits included in that LRA relay that maybe linked to the two solenoids before the regulator.


I am thinking your floats may have just been a bit sticky at first and then finally lifted up or a sticky shut off pin again that managed to release itself especially if it has been standing unused for a while.


Anyway glad to see you are sorted and progressing.


Steve
 
#19 ·
well re the oil pressure switchs on the filter housing one is for the oil light and the second is for the fuel pumps.how will it work well. turn on the ignition the pumps will run. now drive the car and if you lose oil pressure the pumps will not run so safeguarding the engine. now this brings a problem if the car stops but will restart but only runs a few feet thats where your problem is.
now for the fuel coming out of the weakener filter, this was due to the floats being stuck in the open position and flooding the engine. just needed a tap with the handle of a screwdriver. but any more trouble with it i suggest you renew the floats but not the way of the utuber did, take the whole thing off and turn it upside down and it's fast to do. when the shadow11 came out with these new su [floats in the bottom] I did 3 at the side of the road at the earl's court motor show in just under an hour. and then at ever 6000-mile service for a shadow 2 until we got all the bad batch.
 
#20 ·
Peever,


There is a big difference between the Shadows somewhere around 1973/4.


The second oil switch was not added on the earlier cars so pumps worked as soon as ignition switched ON, however the later cars required engine to be actually cranked and did not feed 12v supply to pumps just with ignition ON it required oil pressure to be sensed.


Many owners would however bypass this later mod and disconnect the LRA relay coil supply under the dash/facia or remove the lead at the engine switch as cranking the car to get fuel up to carbs when they had been left for long periods was just ridiculous.


I agree always so much easier to work on the carbs by just removing them as a whole unit.


All the best


Steve
 
#21 ·
Steve.

The way you describe the working of the fuel pump, not pumping until there is oil pressure, is wrong. As PEEVER wrote in his post, the pump only stops pumping if the engine stops and loses oil pressure. When the ignition is first switched on, pumps pump.

There are three oil pressure senders on the engine, one for the warning light, one for the gauge and one for the fuel pump electrical supply.

Jake.
 
#22 ·
Jake,


Your comment is a bit naive and shows a total lack of knowledge across the earlier cars and the later Shadows that you have.


The earlier cars did not even have an oil gauge. :devilNor did they have the fuel pump oil pressure sender cut off switch:deviland/or the LRA relay in circuit to cut out the fuel pump supply :devilas did the later cars. As I clearly said in my post I do not know when or which year the introduction was made.



Read up before you jump in feet first to criticise. I have an earlier SS1 and have just finished working on a very late SS11 that was towed back to the owners home by the AA as they could not get the fuel pumps working. What I write is from 'hands on' working knowledge.



They had hit the pumps so hard virtually smashing the centre alloy housing trying to get the car started. 3 GBP new sender at the front and the problem was solved....by me...... I personally fixed it. Yes his car did have the oil gauge too.



There is a very long thread many years back on the other RR forum where it clearly states the disconnection of the relay to allow the later cars to get the fuel pump supply without cranking. Much information too with pictures from Brian Vogel who actually started the thread after breaking down, showing the two pressure switches at the front of the oil filter housing. I am not disputing there is another sender unit device for the oil pressure gauge but that component is NOT a simple make/break switch as the two are which work the oil pressure light and fuel pump safety cut out. Geoff (dounreay) is also a contributor on that thread.



Indeed on that thread one owner states they place their car in gear and turn the key to crank to get the pumps to work when left standing before returning back to neutral to start the car. I cannot work that one out yet as there are just NO schematics showing the LRA relay in any circuit just a simple switch symbol in circuit with fuel pump supply. So there were obviously some variations happening on the wiring and different changes from earlier to later models.



I had to strip out and trace the wires from the pump to the engine switch and back up to the relay before I discovered how the car was actually wired up.


I don't profess to know what all variations happened electrically but the later workshop manual clearly states it is a fuel pump cut off switch AND a safety circuit to cut the engine in case of lost oil pressure.


I tend to read and understand things at least before jumping in and criticising anyone and I don't post on subjects at all I don't understand.


However if you know better please tell me where RR actually fitted my oil gauge in the facia/dash as i can't see one and where the other oil pressure switch may be found as I would love to actually add a water temp and oil pressure gauge as some earlier SS1 owners have managed to do. Hopefully we don't take this forum to the extremes of trolling just to make out if someone has made a mistake as I just give up bothering.



Steve
 
#23 ·
So just to clarify here is the old post by Paul Yorke who is a very well respected RR/B specialist and huge contributor on forums and a specialist RR/B supplier of parts and reconditioned parts.


Steve





Paul Yorke
Grand Master
Username: paul_yorke

Post Number: 815
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Monday, 31 October, 2011 - 04:53 am: Pumps on later cars do not even start to pump until the engine is cranked, or in some cases, the oil pressure light goes out. A terrible idea IMHO and we frequently disconnect the fuel cut out relay so this 'fuel starvation' does not occur.

I've always referred to electro-mechanical devices that produce rotary movement as a motor and ones that produce a linear movement as a solenoid. Not sure if this may just be R-R terminology though.

I think it is mainly the coil part of mechanisms that requires the condenser for noise, spark, or spike suppression.



 
#24 ·
Steve.

At no time was I refering to a Shadow 1. The original question was about a Shadow11.
I never comment on a Shadow 1 as I have no interest in them but I do know about the late Shadow 11.
I think you comment about jumping in is laughable especially as you keep rambling on about your Shadow 1.
THIS IS A SHADOW 11.

I am out of this.

Jake.
 
#25 ·
Jake,


My first reaction is to say GROW UP and read, read, read.



You have rarely contributed lately to the original posters problems just continually jumped in quoting mostly against what I have said now on several posts where I simply try to help or encourage someone with a problem to help sort it out from my own personal 'hands on' knowledge. I have even researched issues for others through my set of RR/B original full service manuals and complete records of any factory updates I obtained from a RR dealer that was closing down.



Do not assume ALL Shadows work like yours THEY DON'T. There are however a lot of similarities between SS1 and SS11's and I have worked on ALL Shadow models for many years but mostly SS1's



I always make it clear when dealing with various models SS1 or SS11 where my knowledge is not sufficient.


Read the copied post from Paul Yorke above and simply say 'Oh' there is a difference and accept it was you that was wrong, as he actually is talking about later cars ie SS11's. Maybe your car just has the mod he refers to.



Steve
 
#26 ·
In regard to the statement :



"the pump only stops pumping if the engine stops and loses oil pressure. When the ignition is first switched on, pumps pump."


The thing that interests me in this discussion, is the two engine states are the same in each case, i.e. if the engine has stopped and lost oil pressure and starting when the engine is first switched on.



It implies the later series II models had some kind of logic system to distinguish between the two above states. I'd always thought, possibly erroneously, that the engine had to be cranked to build oil pressure to start the fuel pump. In normal everyday use this would not be a problem as there would be sufficient fuel in the float chambers to start the engine, build up the oil pressure and energize the pump. The problem is when the floats are empty - after a long lay up or after work has been carried out on the fuel system.


Just curious
 
#27 ·
On my Silver Shadow 11 (1979) SRH37125 the fuel pump ticks a few times on initially turning on the ignition after a long storage time, it gives a couple of fast clicks initially then it slows down and finally stops pumping when the float chambers are filled. I presume that fuel back pressure created when the float needles close causes the pump to stop. At that stage I know that the fuel system is primed so I proceed to start the engine. Once I start the engine the pump gives an occasional click to maintain the fuel level in the float chambers and the rate at which it clicks depends on how hard I press the accelerator pedal which determines the rate of fuel being used.
 
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