Three For One

• Testing A Fuel Pump
​• Draining A Fuel Tank
• Priming Carburetors

Here's a tip taken from the Factory Service Manual which allows you to accomplish three jobs with one trick.

​The FSM lists this under testing a fuel pump, but I use it for all three of the above. It's basically bypassing the fuel pump relay in order to force the fuel pump to operate. The job of the relay is to allow the pump to operate only if the engine is turning over — in case of an accident the pump won't keep spewing fuel just because the key is still on. So if we need the pump to operate without the engine running we simply bypass the relay by jumping the two contacts in the connector. Pull the connector, insert a jumper wire between the contacts and turn on the key. The pump will then operate, allowing you to test the pump, or test that the petcock's main and reserve are functioning, or drain the tank, or prime the carbs if they've been drained. Here's my jumper in place....

And here's what it looks like when I'm draining the tank or, in this case, testing the plumbing after installing the tank on Project 17. Next, I'll reconnect the line to the carbs and prime (fill) the carbs with fuel. If you skip the priming step, they'll need to fill while you crank and crank the starter. Priming is A Better Idea.