Dave;
        I have taken a fuel pump apart and hooked it to a battery. I was
amazed at the shower of sparks generated by the brushes!!! Evidently this
is not the case while submerged in gasoline. Yes, brushes and all are in
contact with the petrol!

Drive Safely & Good Luck
Ken Lewis    <Kernersville,NC>
86 VW crewcab;60 356B Coupe
--------------------------------------------------

On Mon, 11 Sep 2000 11:46:21 -0700 Undetermined origin c/o LISTSERV
administrator              <owner-LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> writes:
>Running the tank is not a good idea as at least will allow air
>to enter the fuel pump. Fuel lubricates the fuel pump so by
>running the tank dry you are at least taking life off the
>pump and creating a potentially explosive situation
>(fuel + air + spark from unlubricated DC motor brushes = bang).
>Well, that is assuming the the DC motor can spark and I
>can think of a couple designs that would separate the spark
>from the fuel anyway...
>
>dave