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pbryans58 · Sep 5, 2013, 08:48 PM

I have just installed a 16hp briggs vanguard in a Terra Jet,, at first while adjusting things and getting it operational, we were gravity feeding fuel from a jug,, ran fine, then hooked it up to the Terra Jet fuel pump and it ran awful found out the pump was 3lbs psi, figured it was too much so then tried the briggs fuel pump but it doesn't seem to be able to draw the fuel from the tank the tank is located in the front of the Terra Jet,, roughly six feet from the engine, is the pump just weak or will they not draw fuel from that distance? As you turn the engine over the fuel seems to be an inch or two from reaching the briggs fuel pump.

crigby · Sep 5, 2013, 09:16 PM

Hi,
How are you feeding engine vacuum to the pump to make it work? It usually attaches to a valve cover. It could also be that the inlet seat/needle combo in the carb is for a gravity-fed engine. The seat is the critical part since the hole that the needle seals against is smaller in diameter.
Peace,
Clarke

pbryans58 · Sep 7, 2013, 01:50 PM

Hi: First thanks for the quick response,, The fuel pump is hooked up properly,, but doesn't seem to want to pull fuel into the pump,, fuel sits about an inch or two from actually going into pump. How do you tell the difference between gravity feed and fuel pump fed carb? This might seem like a dumb question but I really have no experience with these engines,, and I'm certainly not a mechanic LOL

crigby · Sep 8, 2013, 08:44 AM

Hi,
The pump should be able to draw from a number of feet(Deere L-series with V-twins have 9 - 10 ft. of fuel line) and lift for a few feet as well. Possible other things are fuel shutoff solenoid not connected/opening, pinched fuel line, fuel pickup in tank disconnected or floating. Many machines have remote tanks that are on opposite ends of the machines from the engines and these pumps work fine.
About the only way to tell the inlet seat/needle combe in a carb is through the parts breakdown or a check of the model and type of the engine to see haw the carb is equipped. A gravity-fed system will suffer fuel starvation and run lean and hot with a fuel pump carb. A fuel pump system will run rich with a gravity-fed carb.
Peace,
Clarke