Lack of fuel in the filter?

Finally had the chance to re-plumb the fuel system to get rid of the electric pump and go back to the manual. Took NAPA a week to get the pump which only had an inlet and outlet, no return line. I ran 5/16ths rubber from the fuel cell in the back (tank is going back under the seat when I get a floor for it to sit on) along the frame to the pump, then again up to an inline filter right before the carb. So my buddy and I get it all secured and fire it up and it starts no problem. The filter fills with fuel except for a small air bubble, pretty normal. We take her to lunch a couple of miles away and it runs fine. After lunch we jump back in and it starts a little hard, on the second try. On the way home there was a bit of a hesitation a couple of times when I mashed down on the throttle, but not too bad. We get it back to the shop and the fuel filter has very little fuel in it but it's still running, and doesn't stall when we give it more gas. Any ideas? My buddy was a mechanic in a GM dealership in the late 70's and had never seen an engine stay running with that little fuel running through the filter. We shut it off and went back to work for an hour and then checked it out and the filter was full again. Started her back up and let it run for a bit and the filter stayed full. I'll take her out again tomorrow and see if it continues. Anybody have any ideas?:?


Thanks,

Scott

69 CJ5 Canadian:v6:

 

what is the fuel pressure? stock is 2.5psi, mine runs best with 3psi.

 

got a generator that does the same thing,its a twin cylinder onan with electric fuel pump,cant figure it out myself,but it runs fine,so i am not too worried about it

 

Took her out to the Post Office this AM, only a couple of miles. She started hard and then ran fine. The filter had less fuel in it when I got home, but only a little. Went out to look at jobs in the PU and just looked when I got back and there was even less fuel and it looked kind of yellowish. She started right up just now though and ran OK again. Yesterday my buddy adjusted the carb a bit, but I'm not sure it helped. Maybe I should shoot some carb cleaner in the carb cause I think the yellow gas flowed back from there, some of the varnish comming off possibly:?

What do I need to check the fuel pressure? I don't think I have any gauges that will read that low of a pressure.

Thanks for the input so far,

Scott
69 CJ5:v6: Canadian

 

most vacume gauges read fuel pressure on the older vehicles

 

I've always found the fuel filter will show a lot of air and it doesn't seem to mean anything.

Pete

 

Shot some carb cleaner in there while I was taking the plow frame off. (Anybody need a Meyers 6' plow cause its going in the classifieds and Craigslist.) Started it up and it ran OK, but stumbles in the beginning, then runs fine. Maybe I'll re-adjust the carb today. I guess the concensus is that the lack of fuel is no problem as long as it ain't starving and stalling:? I'll pick up a vacume gauge set today and check the pressure as suggested, and maybe a timing light. I can't remember the last time I did a tune-up on a vehicle. Probably 20+ years ago on an M-151 in the motor pool

Thanks again for the replys,

 

When I put a new clear filter on my F head you barely see any fuel in the filter but it runs fine so I didn't worry about it.

 

completly normal, caused by the needle closing cutting off actual flow. on mine it is the same, but i have a combo of rubber and steel line, pull the rubber line off and it has lots of presssure on the needle