Petrolift Fuel Pump

[Sam Christie]

I have an SU Petrolift fuel pump which I would like to restore. How should I test it ? If it is faulty is it repairable ? How should it look ? And is it possible to replace the label which once adorned it ?

[prharris25]

From bitter experience, the best thing that you can do with a Petrolift is to polish it up and place it in your Trophy cabinet. Totally unreliable, hence of course the rapidly introduced SU pump that we all know and curse.
When I had my 1932 Ten Coupe, I got a very good repro label from one of the MG specialists, Barry Walker I think it was.

[Ian Grace]

My McEvoy still sports its original Petrolift. I will give it ONE chance!

[Sam Christie]

Yes the Petrolift does not enjoy a great reputation. I had one before which I only found after a very long search and though it made all the right noises it never actually lifted petrol . For authenticity I fitted it to a £100 SV Minor which I owned.
I have just discovered an extensive article in Graham Howell's book on the J2 MG (article by Bob Farnum) but it seems rather complicated and off putting. It would be nice though to get this original feature working properly again. I wonder, do MG J2 owners have better luck with the Petrolift ?

[Toby]

I have a petrolift that came with some bits I needed, the general concensus appears to be not to go any where near the thing! however... It was suggested to me that you can mock it up on the firewall but use a more reliable pump, hidden away, to do the work.