Reliant Rebel 700 1967 Workshop Manual page 73

Description
Fuel is delivered to the carburettor by an engine driven AC diaphragm
pump from a rectangular fuel tank mounted under the rear floor of
the vehicle. The fuel is filtered by a gauze filter located on the pick-up
pipe of the fuel tank. An additional in line filter is incorporated in the
fuel line from the tank to the pump, at the rear of the vehicle. The
fuel level gauge is actuated by a float operated sender unit in the tank.
A Zenith downdraught carburettor is used on all Rebel 700 and 750cc
models, incorporating a diaphragm accelerator pump and a
depression operated economy device. Air is filtered through the
carburettor by a dry paper element air cleaner, which, on later
vehicles, also serves the breather in the oil filler cap.
Routine Servicing
Every 10,000 miles (16,000km)
Dismantle and clean the carburettor and adjust.
Renew the air filter and clean the oil filler cap.
Fuel Tank
If water, or other contaminant is present in the fuel tank, the tank
must be removed and thoroughly flushed out with clean fuel.
To remove (Figure 1)
1. Disconnect the battery earth lead.
2. Jack up the rear of the vehicle and place on suitable
stands.
3. Remove the tank drain plug and drain off the contents
into a suitable container. If no drain plug is fitted the
tank contents must be siphoned out.
4. Disconnect the sender unit electrical connections and
remove the fuel pipe sleeve from the sender unit.
5. Slacken the "jubilee" clips and disconnect and
withdraw the fuel filler pipe rubber coupling hose.
6. Unscrew two ¼" UNF set screws and nuts securing the
tank to the rear support brackets.
7. Remove the two 5/16" UNF nuts, lock washers and
bushes and withdraw the fuel tank support rod.
8. Support the tank and carefully lower and remove from
the vehicle.
To replace
1. Raise the fuel tank, insert the tank support rod and secure
with two 5/16" UNF nuts, lock washers and bushes. Ensure
that both support rod collars are correctly seated in the
mounting brackets.
2. Secure the tank rear support brackets with two ¼" UNF set
screws and nuts.
3. Refit the petrol filler rubber hose and filler tube and
retighten the jubilee clips to afford a good seal.
4. Reconnect the sender unit electrical connectors and refit
the fuel pipe connector sleeve.
5. Refit the tank drain plug.
6.
Remove stands and lower the vehicle to the ground.
7. Reconnect the battery leads.
Fuel Gauge Sender Unit
Diagnosis
If faulty or inaccurate readings are suspected on the fuel gauge, check
the gauge and sender unit as follows:
With the ignition switched on, disconnect the sender wire from the
sender unit on the tank. The gauge should now read empty. Ground
the sender wire to the tank body and the gauge should move to full.
This will indicate that electrically, the gauge unit is operating correctly.
Any fault is likely to be with the sender unit, which may require
replacement.
If the fault lies with the gauge unit, this will need to be removed from
the dash panel multi gauge and renewed as a complete unit (see
Section T – Electrical)
To remove the sender unit
1. Drain the fuel tank and remove the sender unit electrical
connectors and the fuel line coupling.
2. Unscrew the six 10 UNF screws and remove the sender unit
from the tank. Take great care not to bend or distort the
float lever as this will affect the accuracy of the gauge.
3. Examine the unit to ensure that the rheostat is not
damaged.
To replace the sender unit
1. Locate the unit in the tank using a new cork gasket and
secure with six 10 UNF screws.
2.
Reconnect the fuel feed pipe and electrical leads to the
sender.
3. Refill the fuel tank.
4.
Switch on the ignition and check the fuel gauge operation.
Fuel Pump
Testing the fuel pump
Provided there are no air leaks or blockages in the main fuel line, and
there is fuel in the tank, a quick check on the fuel pump efficiency can
be made as follows:
1. Disconnect the carburettor feed pipe at the fuel pump
outlet.
2. Connect a slave pipe to the fuel pump outlet and rout this
in to a clean jar.
3. Crank the engine. A well-defined spurt of fuel should be
apparent for every revolution of the engine. If the pump
does not operate satisfactorily, remove, dismantle and
overhaul using the repair kit part No. 11858.
To remove and dismantle
1. Disconnect the fuel pump inlet and outlet pipes and
suitably plug to avoid dirt ingress or fuel leakage.
2. Unscrew the two 5/16" UNF nuts and lock washers securing
the pump to the side of the engine block and remove the
pump by lifting the operating lever to clear the camshaft
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