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What to use to spin oil pump before start?


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As I near start-up Id like to spin the oil pump over to get pressure before turning the motor over and eventually getting it to fire.

 

Ive measured the distributor drive and its ~1" OD so could I fashion a tool made from 25mm copper pipe/plastic pipe with a notch cut out to engage with the top of the oil pump and spin it with a drill?

 

Im assuming it rotates anticlockwise as well?

 

Thanks

Edited by AndrewP
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The pump needs some torque to spin it. Copper or plastic pipe won't have the strength, and you don't want torn bits down there, or a twisted tool seized in the drilling.

Find some steel pipe or rod.

John

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Better off taking the plugs out and spinning it over on the starter, if you use the drill method it does tend to wash all your carefully applied lube off the cam.

Stuart.

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Isn't it overkilling? Assembly lube is applied exactly for the purpose of pre-lubrication before the engine oil takes over. Furthermore I don't think the pump will deliver enough pressure to lubricate the whole system below 500 RPM ?

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Guys,

Thanks for the responses.

Ive used graphite during the rebuild so is using the starter to spin the engine over just as 'safe' as spinning the oil pump by itself?

As Stuart said. It is safer go the other way the cam will not rotate and all you will prime is the mains and not a lot of them.

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Hi Chaps,

I have found I have to use the direct priming method using a drill at times as just turning over the engine with the plugs out doesn't build pressure. However once primed all runs fine.

Perhaps an issue with tolerances in the oil pump? What ever All is fine once up and running

Cheers

Tim

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FWIW, I made this simple tool, I had one of our apprentices make me a tool for the job while he was at college.

 

6" long brass rod, 12mm diameter (so fits most hand drill chucks) with a 4mm slot to engage the oil pump drive.....see pic.

 

He's making another item for me which he had better have ready by tomorrow......he's not a bad wee machinist!

post-6267-0-98251400-1502981469_thumb.jpg

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I have a steel shaft with a slit to fit into the oil pump.

I turn it with an accu driller that can keep the shaft tight

when turning anticlockwise.

 

I set the max torque on the driller that it does not twist off my hand

when the oil pressure comes up. It will increase the force significantly.

 

I would do that immediately before starting the engine to blow the air

out of the oil system and fill the filter.

 

For that it is necessary to let the driller run some seconds after oil pressure comes up.

 

After that quickly replace the oilpump/distributor drive.

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I like to use a drill to fill all the oil ways, i.e. pipes, oil filter and galleries so that when I then spin it over with plugs out it only takes a turn or two before oil is everywhere it needs to be. Spinning the pump won't get any oil up to the rockers as the cam (which has its own inbuilt pump passageway) isn't turning, which is why I'm not sure why Stuart thinks it would wash away cam lube as the cam isn't turning and at best all its going to do is fill the gallery to the cam bearings and squeeze a little bit past them, the lobes shouldn't see any at all.

 

However I don't have PI so just dropping the drive gear and distributor back in quick for me. As others will point out you need to take it gently or you can blow oil up through the distributor pedestal, I actually have a plastic tube end that is a good fit into the pedestal with a hole in the middle to drop the drive shaft through, just saves getting it wrong.

 

If you want a purpose made drive tool for spinning the oil pump, ask anyone with a Spitfire if they have an old oil pump, pull out the shaft and knock the lobe off and voila a correct diameter shaft of the correct length with a notch in the end. 6 cyl oil pumps have a raised drive dog , 4 cyls have a notch.

 

Alan

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