Aircooled VW South Africa

I've replaced all my original Pierburg fuel pumps with aftermarket ones but they just don't look right in the engine bay. With rebuild kits having to be imported at great cost I'm looking at rebuilding mine using diaphragm material bought locally (Cape Town Rubber). To me it looks like the biggest challenge is to make the metal disk holding the diaphragm in place removable, i.e. held in by a nut/bolt. Has anybody done this?

I've mainly ever only had to strip and clean the original pumps. I have used the rebuild kits before to replace a torn diaphragm, but they are pricey.

Are your diaphragms torn? I have many pumps running for a long time that had rather old and hard diaphragms from standing for many years, but they have never developed any issues. Its mainly those little one way spring loaded brass plate valves that get stuck or old fuel blocked in the journals inside the pump housing. As long as the diaphragm is not torn, the pump should work fine once cleaned.

Thanks Sean, I actually haven't started stripping one yet. I'm just considering my options if the diaphragm happens to be torn. I'll strip one and have a look. On a similar note, the diaphragm on the original lever-type pump for my '59 Mercedes ponton is torn. Fuel leaked into the pump and into the crank case. I'll see if I can successfully replace the diaphragm DIY style.

Post some pics of what you used and how you did it sure it will help others please

I'll start by repairing my Mercedes pump because I urgently need it, which has a similar diaphragm as Beetle 1100 (and possibly earlier) fuel pumps. If it works I'll venture on to the Beetle pumps.

And I'll take pictures as I go along.

I've managed to successfully rebuild my original Mercedes lever type Pierburg fuel pump using diaphragm material inexpensively obtained from Cape Town Rubber. This experience has now given me the confidence to attempt making a new diaphragm for an original Beetle fuel pump. Albeit not aircooled, I can post pics of my Merc pump rebuild here if anybody is interested.

Well done,

pictures will be nice to inspire other to attempt things the would not otherwise start.

Thank you

Herman

Thanks Herman. I'll post a thread in "Other Marques" in order to stay true to protocol.