Electric Fuel Pump dripping

[Jim Worley]

All,
After the first couple flights out of annual (8 weeks), My electric fuel pump drips through the drain tube out the bottom of the airplane underneath the co pilots feet. It only drips when the engine is not running to the best I can tell and it will stop if I move the fuel selector to the off position. It is dripping probably once every 3-5 seconds. Due to work, I haven't been able to get in there and look at it yet. Have any of you ever seen this problem before? If so, was replacing the pump the fix? Is it possible to put new seals in the pump without sending it off to overhaul or getting a new (to me) pump installed?

My aircraft specifics are: '61 250, IO-540. The fuel injection wasn't installed until the early 90s, so I'm hoping the Dukes pump is what was installed. Thanks.

Jim

[tomburke1]

if your FI was installed in the 90's the Dukes pump was probably the one installed. If this is the first problem you are seeing you got very good service from it. They have a TBO of 10 years, and Dukes considers that mandatory. No repair is approved after 10 years from last overhaul. CJ aviation in Miami is a good shop, and Dukes themselves also rebuilds them. Dukes use to be cheaper then CJ, but I am not sure they still are. I used CJ because it is local to me. They seem to do a very good job, and they have an stc'd mod that they say increases the service life of the pump dramatically.

[fowlerflaps]

i have the same issue on my PA30. It seems to be my left pump and it drips from the drain on the belly however, mine only happens intermittently....so i have not done anything about it...

[tomburke1]

The twin isw a completely different system, with different pumps. I would not ignore a fuel drip myself, no matter how intermittent

[Jim Worley]

Aircraft Supply in Pittsburgh is offering rebuilt Dukes Pumps at $576 + 400 core charge. Has anyone ever done business with them? At risk of "getting what you pay for" I am a little bit skeptical since that is about $350 less than what is offered just about everywhere else. Any info would be appreciated.

Jim

[tomburke1]

That is about what I paid a few years ago. They might have old stock, or misquoted them. I had CJ Aviation do min e as they are local to me. They do good work.

[Richard Wiskar]

Hi
Just wanted to let you know that you can get Dukes fuel pumps overhauled at a place in Vancouver BC, Canada actually they are in Surrey just outside of Vancouver.
They turned the pump I had O/H'd by them in 3 days and charged $431.53 + plus tax.
The person to talk to is Roy he is the owner and very helpful.
That Dukes pump is most mickmouse piece of junk I have ever seen ( I took it appart couldn't beleive what I saw) the pump in my Mercedes is built 100 times better and it would last for at least 10000 hrs in an aircraft.
The name of the place in Suuey is: S.I.L. Industries Ltd, 121-19140 28th Avenue Surrey BC Canada, V3S 6M3. PH; 604-531-7951. http://www.silindustries.com
Hope this helps.
Richard