86 700 fuel pump

After cleaning the rust and varnish out of the fuel tank and having the carbs rebuilt, I don't want to take any chances on contaminating the carbs by using a dirty old fuel pump. I took off the functioning original OEM Mitsubishi pump and quickly realized that a new OEM one is not available.

Is it possible or even worth taking the original pump apart, cleaning it, and reinstalling it?

If not, who sells a quality replacement part?

I'd rather not use imported Chinese parts, but I realize that may be my only option.

I'm all ears for suggestions, fellas.

 

fuel washes through it, and dirt cant hide anywhere. small filters above float needle will catch most grit. dont molest the OEM pump as most replacements dont last long.

if u have a light and careful touch, u can try pulling a strip of fine sandpaper through the contact points under the cover if they look funky

 

For a new pump option, you will need to go with a straight spigot design and compensate. Usually that means using some elbows and/or changing how the pump mounts because of the proximity to the coolant overflow tank. It has been done many times. Look at what @tsmitty did for an example.

https://vfrworld.com/threads/gen-2-fuel-pump-option-installation-w-photos.62261/#post-660444

Stick with K&L or TourMax, they are genuine Japanese Mitsubishi. The pump for a 1990 - 1997 VFR is a good model example.

 

Excellent information here. I tried a search on the forum before I posted this, but it didn't come up with this thread. Thanks for the link and advice.

 

Thanks for the advice SM. I'm going to examine the original pump a little closer and check the flow amount. If it appears to be functioning properly, I may just re use it.

 

Keep in mind these pumps are 40 (FORTY!!!!) years old now. If you want any kind of confidence out on the road, consider the change now.

All 4 of my 1986 VFRs had the pumps fail, plus one out of a parts bike. The only bike that still has an original style was one that came with a NOS in a box and installed about 10 years ago

 

I agree. This old pump has served its purpose. I don't want to have a pump failure on the road., so I'm going to buy a K&L and make some adjustments to the mounting. Thanks.

 

I checked out the fuel pump replacement article Joe Nelson posted on his webpage last March. Great idea and that was the route I was going to go. However, it appears that the K&L pump Joe used (K&L part number 18-5529) is unavailable and backordered everywhere. K&L only sells to distributors so buying one direct is no bueno as well. There is another K&L pump (K&L part number 18-5528) that is widely available for an 89 CBR 600 F4 and looks visually identical to 5529. Anyone have any experience using this pump on the 86-87 700's ?

 

Notice the vent style on that one. It is a spigot, not a channel. It may interfere with your mount style.

Don't forget about TourMax, they are the same Mitsubishi pump.

 

I just looked closer at the K&L 5528 and saw the spigot. So that's not going to work. It looks like all K&L 5529's are on backorder and the Tour Max FPP-904 are available in the UK and Europe for a king's ransom. I couldn't locate any in the US. I really hate the idea of using a cheap one from China. I saw someone here tried one from Quantum and had no luck with it. So, the search continues...

 

I would run a 40 yo original before I spent 10 cents on a chinese pos.

What I do because I have so many bikes that use that pump is look at the K&L chart and note every bike that takes the 5529 style. Then I look for the lowest mile, newest bike model year used pump on eBay with a return policy. I have done it many times with only one doa. Instant refund, they didn't want it back.

Plus you usually end up with some decent fuel line and clamps too.

 

One other thought,

Some other K&L pumps are the correct configuration, just a different power connector that is easily rectified.

Like 18-5530

18-5527 appears to have smaller diameter spigots from the picture.