priming electric fuel pump on midget 1500

After having my 1500 for a year I got a bit nervous with the condition of the electric fuel pump installed by the PO. The pump never gave me any problems but I figured to be on the safe side I would install a back up pump so that in the event the original pump failed I could throw a switch and activate the back-up pump. I installed the backup pump today and replaced the decrepid fuel lines but in the process lost the prime to the original pump. Any advice on how to reprime the pump? It won't seem to self prime and I am trying to avoid crawling underneath again and disconnecting the line and doing the old suck and siphon routine, which I assume would work but don't really want to have a mouthfull of gasoline. Any advice appreciated...

thanks

Reginald (Reg) Kidd

Sounds to me like you have a leak in your lines from the tank to the pump.
Where (and how) did you put in the backup pump? In-line or in parallel with the original pump.
The 1500 originally had a mechanical pump, is it still in the circuit at all?
BillM

Reg - "...and replaced the decrepid fuel lines"

Recheck the connections on the line you replaced - that would be a prime place for an air leak as Bill suggests.
Cheers,

Check your fuel lines for air leaks, Then turn your ignition on like your about to start you car but don't, Then turn the ignition off and turn again like your going to start but dont, Do that three times then try to start. When you turn you key on like your about to start your pump is pumping the gas and after three times it should be primed enough to start.

Thanks,
Russell Young

Bill, Russel and Dave,

Thanks for the help. The PO took the mechanical pump out of the circuit, so it is not an issue, however I did instal the back up pump in paralell, so there is more tubing to deal with, which probably means I have an air leak like you suggest....looks like back under I go...

thanks again!

Reg

Turn on both pumps at the same time- you will only get the pressure of the highest pressure pump but high volume (not a problem). Pretty quickly you will do two things, you will prime everything and you will find your leaks. Turn off the pumps, fix the leaks and continue like nothing ever went wrong.
BillM

The electric pump on my 64 Midget loses prime too. Until I get the old mechanical pump working, pressurizing the fuel tank with the pump running does the job.
Take the fuel cap off, seal the opening and blow into the tank - no comments please!

Bill and Dennis - thanks for the help, I managed to activate both pumps, got the lines primed and found some leaks. Once I fixed the leaks I felt bold enough to take her out for a spin with no issues. Dennis - I was ready to blow into the tank but thankfully did not have too!

thanks again,

Reg