Ok having fixed the indicators(7 weeks after they broke), I couldn't start the thing. Petrol filter empty. It hadn't been started for a few weeks so thought, fine, I'll just suck some petrol up and prime the carb. Did this: Usually after doing this, petrol will then stay in the filter, but this time drained back really quickly. It fired, but after burning the primed fuel just cut out again. Normally it will get the petrol going and it'll be fine. What's the problem then? Do these filters have a no return valve that fails eventually? I was trying to start it for over an hour and it did this every time. Using a syringe I sucked up the fuel and noticed loads of air bubbles coming through too... Guessing that's not normal? Simple problem, but buggered if I can start it.. Any help?

Have you checked all the joints on the fuel line run? if not I would start by doing that and checking that the fexible rubber hose parts have not perished causing leak

they have 2
one on the inlet pipe and one on the outlet pipe

old ones were a flap of rubber and as they were in an alloy body they tend to crud up with crystalline deposits as well as any rubbish from decaying pipes and residue that gets through the pickup pipe filter

most pumps can be taken apart to get at the valves to clean them up and check that the diaphragm hasn’t split

pulled one off a heavy flywheel engine that had done 30k and then sat for 30yrs, it was immaculate inside, im guessing it had never had ethanol methanol unleaded through it!

Forgot to mention, the pump itself is only 18 months old. Anyway tomorrow I'll replace the fuel pipe/filter from front of chassis upwards and hope that gets rid of any air locks, and I'll check the rest is in good nick too.

The bit of rubber hose on top of the tank off the sender unit can be a bit prone to make sure you have a loook at that to.

Do a quick test:
disconnect the fuelhose at the side of the pump at the chassis, put the hose in a petrol can
make shure it ends in the petrol, when you now crank the engine and the fillter takes up petrol and the engine gets alive, then there is something wrong in the rest of your fuelhose!!!
Otherwise your pump has gone.

Try to do the same with the fuelhose disconnect at the carburator when it starts to deliver probably your filter inside the carburator has blocked !!

When it pisses in pulses it is good, only drops are to less..

clean the filter inside your carburator anyway it is the 14mm bolt near the fuell inlet at the carburator.

there seems to be an issue with the quality of the valves in the new pumps there’s been a bit about it over on 2cvGB

there wont be any problems with air locks as its just simple in line system and a healthy pump is more than capable of self priming, but a squirt of betrol down the outlet pipe will get a dry pump going quicker
Sean

when i couldnt get any gas through i poped pipe of the carb (AS instructed) and cranked over to see if fuel was coming out, yes fuel came through and went all over my neighrbous white wall, so back on the pipe went, a big blow down the filler neck and off she went

well done!!