From emails, the new forum and from the LML it looks like the only reason the fuel pump is stuttering is because there is air in the line.  That air can come from fuel vaporization, a leak in the fuel line or is because the fuel vents are plugged and/or not enough pressurization is occurring from forward flight.

I'll be investigating over the next week or so and lots of practice flights (darn!)  and I'll report back my results.

Thank you all, I appreciate the time you took to respond.

Kevin