No Oil Pressure

[warren casey]

Today we tried to do a bench start of the new rebuild. But to no avail - we couldn't get any oil pressure! Using the Moyer check list, we where just turning the motor over with the starter (we had removed the spark plugs). We had a direct reading oil gauge (new) and it read nothing! So we removed the gauge to check for oil and pressure. We again turned the motor over and only a little oil with no pressure behind it. We of course had started with the oil pressure regulation valve tight (new valve). We then removed the oil regulation valve and checked for oil and pressure. Turning the motor over we again saw only a little oil with no pressure behind it.

According to the book there are only three things it can be 1) Broken nipple (which is fine). 2) 90 degree elbow between the oil pump and screen. 3) One of the internal pipe plugs.

First question: if it was the plugs wouldn't we get pressure at the oil regulation valve?

Second question: Do the oil pumps go bad? it looked good.

Third question: Is there any other thing it could be?

[warren casey]

Pictures of the starting!

[67c&ccorv]

1.NTTBF but is there oil in the motor?:(

2. Are the worm gears turning in the crankcase oil pump in the main bearing support? :confused:

3. Is the oil pump pick-up tube screen plugged?:eek:

PS - Would love to hear that motor running with the Kawi pipe on it!:)

[warren casey]

thanks: 67c&ccorv

1) Yes there was oil in the motor.

2) I don't know if the worm gears are turning - I did not replace the oil pump - it is the one that came with the engine I bought. The water pump, transmission, and distributor are turning - so the worm gear is working as far as those parts.

3) It is a new screen in the oil pick up.

I bet the engine would of sounded cool - soon!!!!

[Don Moyer]

Warren,

Regretfully, your indications are most consistent with a missing oil galley plug. If one of the three internal plugs (one at each end of the block, just off to the side of the cam shaft, and one below the regulating valve) is left uninstalled, all the oil being produced by the pump is recirculating directly back into the crankcase. In this condition, you will not get pressure anywhere in the system (even at the regulating valve).

If you were relying on the machine shop to install these plugs you might start by checking with them to see if they had 3 oil galley plugs remaining after their work.

Otherwise, with a good flashlight you may be able to look in through the access plate on top of the aft housing and see oil running down along the rear face of the block behind the large timing gear on the cam shaft. If you see no oil in that location, you'll have to remove the oil pan to check the plug below the regulating valve and the flywheel housing and/or flywheel to check the plug in front of the block beside the camshaft.

Don

[warren casey]

Thanks Don,

I just talked to the machine shop and he is willing to open up the engine again and check for plugs and find out what is going on! They said they didn't put in any plugs in the inside of the engine so it is a good chance that is what is wrong. I will call Ken to get more gaskets!

I will let you know what the problem is!

[warren casey]

This must be the problem - This galley plug below the Oil Pressure Valve was not in (the other two are in) My machinist thought that this is where the oil was returned to the pan when bypassed though the Oil Pressure Valve.

Don - where does the oil go when the valve is open?? My machinist was worried about that.

The engine will go together today and we will try and run it soon!

[adab1402]

on having an understanding machine shop ,and a tip of the cap for the great photo,s and italics . fair winds adab1402

[67c&ccorv]

Don - where does the oil go when the valve is open?? My machinist was worried about that.

Out the exhaust pipe! (I think - Don?):p

[Don Moyer]

Warren,

Oil that passes by the regulating valve discharges through a small hole (approximately 5/16") just downstream of the ball (or sliding spear on early model designs) on the rear face of the block, from where it flows back down into the oil pan.

I'm attaching Fig. 1 from Chapter 5 of our Service and Overhaul Manual which shows this hole just off from the bottom edge of the camshaft gear and in line with the regulating valve itself. The similar sized hole just above the regulating valve is one of the 5/16" retaining bolt holes for the aft housing.

Don

[warren casey]

That fixed the problem - we have 50psi of oil pressure!! I will pick up the motor on Monday and check out another problem the Machinist found.

The starter will not completely disengage from the fly wheel. Has anyone heard of this problem? I will find out more about it when I pick up the motor. I do have another starter - which I will compare.

[warren casey]

There was a spacer in the starter that wouldn't let the gear retract completely. We removed it and it works fine! I will pick up the motor later today and do a bench test this weekend!