Stratton Jimmer Posted June 16, 2021 Report Share Posted June 16, 2021 My recently acquired six pot Spitfire was found to have a fuel weep from the pump outlet. The brass tube nut had been rather damaged and appeared to have been tightened up with a mole grip. I managed to remove it and found that the pipe wasn't quite straight and so the tube nut didn't meet the olive but some PTFE tape had been wound around the pipe which seems to have allowed the joint to have been temporarily made fuel tight. Unsurprisingly, it had begun to leak. I have removed the final 1/4 inch of pipe together with the olive and ordered a replacement tube nut and olive from Moss. Anyhow, I am just seeking any advice on fitting the new olive and tube nut. Should there be a flare to the pipe end? There wasn't one previously but the whole pipe appears to have been a recent fit. I seek the guidance of the wise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 16, 2021 Report Share Posted June 16, 2021 you need the pipe to protrude through a few mm beyond the olive and there is no flare its either an olive or a flare not both that wont work if the pipe doesnt go right thro' and stick out beyond the olive only one side of the olive is left to grip ..happens a lot and dont do the nut up with gorilla hands a nice hand tight nip should grip the olive firmly on the pipe Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted June 16, 2021 Report Share Posted June 16, 2021 no the olive is the sealing point when it gets pushed up against the cup shape inside the fuel pump (worth looking in fuel pump hole to make sure its seat isnt damaged) then as you do up the nut this pushes on the other end of the olive to compress it onto the pipe. Usually works fine as long as the alignment is ok and the components good - after all the fuel pressure is pretty low👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 16, 2021 Report Share Posted June 16, 2021 Some suppliers supply modern metric equivalents that seem loose on the pipe. For peace of mind I managed to find original olives that seemed to seat better and certainly sealed with little effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted June 16, 2021 Report Share Posted June 16, 2021 I've found these olives frequently weep a bit of fuel. Once the olive is correctly seated, a couple of turns of PTFE tape can help. I know it shouldn't be necessary but out usually works! Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratton Jimmer Posted June 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2021 Thank you all for your sage advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratton Jimmer Posted June 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2021 The bits arrived this morning and have been fitted as per your advice. All is well so thank you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted June 22, 2021 Report Share Posted June 22, 2021 Have fitted an o ring to the pump side of the olive on the pipe to the carburetors to stop it weeping, never found it necessary on the supply side. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted June 22, 2021 Report Share Posted June 22, 2021 Leaky fuel pump olives after initial fitting and compressing I've subsequently had to solder them on to stop the weeping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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