<VV> fuel pump push-ups - truth revealed! (?)

[NicolCS@aol.com]

All of this talk about damaging the fuel pump damage through manual 
operation!  I just took a look at a pump and accessory housing from my parts supply.  I 
don't think it's likely that one could damage the pump through manual 
operation.

On the parts I have, the fuel pump is nearly bottomed on the accy housing 
when it's locked in the normal position.  There's only about 0.025" additional 
clearance.

When manually operating the pump, I think most people don't come anywhere 
near bottoming the pump on the housing and even if they did, it would only cause 
an additional 0.025" stroke and that would only be true if the pump eccentric 
were at it's high point.

I have done "fuel-pump push-ups" without any ill effects since 1970.  I do 
worry about damaging the o-ring and for that reason, I lube it before operating 
the pump manually.

Feel free to use what ever method you prefer.  About half the time I do "pump 
push-ups", the other half of the time I pre-fill the carb bowls through the 
vent tubes using a pump-oiler filled with gasoline.
Craig (boom-boom)Nicol