What is this?

[amazon69]

Hi all,

Can someone please identify this item atop the fuel tank from my 406?

Thanks,

Dave

[Geoff Dowdle]

Dave,
It is a fuel reserve soleniod .
They sometimes leak and being above the fuel ,suck air leading to fuel starvation problems.
Geoff

[amazon69]

Thanks Geoff. I was thinking it is some kind of lifter pump, as there is no other way of the fuel getting out of the tank (apart from a drain plug on the bottom) the coiled pipe is an overflow I think..I originally thought that was the fuel outlet. All parts were disconnected so it has been tricky to work out. On this other pic (from a 405 I think) the fuel line seems clearer. If it is for the reserve, where is the main outlet?
Cheers

d

[Kevin H]

Dave, the main outlet is the pipe coming from the reserve solenoid. The solenoid has two pipes beneath it going down into the tank, one is longer than the other and the longer pipe accesses the reserve fuel in the bottom of the tank. The solenoid simply switches between the two. I have one somewhere - if I can find it I will add a photo to this post.

Kevin.

[Kevin H]

The attached photos show what's 'below the surface' of the fuel reserve solenoid, plus a close up of the fuel pickup pipes which shows their different lengths.

This particular one is not from a Bristol - the pipes aren't long enough. I have encoutered similar items on British cars from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Dave, I believe the coiled pipe in your picture is a breather rather than an overflow.

[peterg]

The fuel is lifted by the mechanical pump on the engine (or replacement electrical pumps, also usually in the engine compartment).

The picture from the 406 is the same reserve solenoid as attached to the tank. The (decrepit) wires are from the fuel level sender unit.

Is there a way of linking the breather pipe to the filler pipe so that a one way valve can be fitted before the breather outlet?

[amazon69]

Thanks all. So to replace that I could use a small lifter pump with an in-tank pipe going to the bottom of the tank, and then either to another electrical pump or an engine driven one?

Thanks.

d

[Julian Caples]

Why don't you get the reserve unit repaired/reconditioned? That would restore the function properly and give you reserve function as originally designed.

Four Ashes Garage do a terrific job with these pickup units

Regards

Julian

PS its worthwhile getting the petrol tank professionally cleaned and resealed whilst its all out

[amazon69]

Thanks Julian. I could do that, thanks. I appreciate the recommendation. I will be sorting the tank out before I use it again.