Hi Griff,I"ll give that a try..I'm going to put the plate on and run it..see if I hear anything....

 

Is the fuel filter between the pump and the guage?
Is it possible that a piece of vacuum hose is being used between the fuel pump and gas line?

 

In my application with my mechanical fuel pump, yes. My filter was inbetween the pump and the gauge. I wouldn't recommend vacuum hose..get fuel line hose..there is a difference. I now going to use an electronic fuel pump; the filter will be inbetween the tank and the electronic pump....hope this helps..

 

The reason I mentioned Vacuum hose in the fuel lineis that if you are using a piece of vacuumhose instead of fuel hose on the suction side of the pump it could be collapsing when the pump trys to pull the fuel from the tank. Also it worries me that the rod does not slide out of the motor when the plate is removed. Check on the front of the motor, there is a bolt that goes through into the push rod cavity,
if the bolt is too long it will bind the push rod. Take the bolt out and ckeck how long it is.