How Long To Build Up Oil Pressure

[Bingster]

I'm very close to starting my flat head 6 after fifteen years.  It's already turned over with a battery a number of times both with plugs in and out. Somebody told me to turn over the engine with plugs out and see how my oil gauge is doing.  How long should it take to see a reading?  I changed my oil and so there is plenty down there. But I figure that if the oil filter or pump isn't working, the cylinders will run dry? 

 

Somebody I saw filled the oil filter before firing it up. I think he said it was to save time for the pressure to build.

 

Anyway, just wondering how long I should turn the engine over before seeing the pressure build on the gauge.

[Doug&Deb]

Did you soak the oil pump and bleed the air out of it before installation? That’s very important. Also before cranking it remove the distributor and use a drill to spin the pump to prime the system. I used an old distributor for that on mine. After that re-install the distributor and it should be safe to try starting.

[Sniper]

You are not going to be able to spin the oil pump with a drill the drive gear is on the oil pump not the distributor. If you tried to spin the distributor over with a drill you'll be trying to crank the entire engine over

Edited October 18, 2023 by Sniper

[Los_Control]

I would just leave the key off and turn the engine over with no spark until you see the oil pressure needle jiggle ... It will not really build oil pressure turning over with the starter, but it will move the oil.

When you see the needle move you know you have oil circulating. The pump is working.

 

Might take a minute or so without the engine running ..... would be easier on the battery & starter if the plugs were out .... does not matter though.

[Doug&Deb]

Sniper that’s how I primed my rebuilt engine. Plugs out of course. My cordless drill worked fine. 

[Dodgeb4ya]

On a flathead the oil pump has a drive gear meshed with the camshaft.

You cannot turn the oil pump with with any type of driven shaft unless you strip the gear teeth off the pump.

I made a priming oil pump by cutting the teeth off the pumps.

Now days I use a oil priming pressure tank.

Edited October 20, 2023 by Dodgeb4ya
Spell check

[Doug&Deb]

Now you all have me confused. What the heck did I do to prime the engine. That was March so it wasn’t that long ago. My memory sure isn’t what it used to be.

[Los_Control]

26 minutes ago, Doug&Deb said:

What the heck did I do to prime the engine.

I have never done it myself. I've heard of priming the new oil pump before installing it .... possible that is what you did? Used your drill to spin the pump outside the engine?

[Doug&Deb]

No I remember hand turning the pump while submerged in oil to remove the air from it before installing it. I swore I used an old distributor to prime the engine. Perhaps I removed the gear. I’ll have to try and find that distributor to check. None of this is helping Bingster get his engine started. Hopefully someone will chime in with the proper steps to get him going.

[Los_Control]

For @Bingster we are not talking a new rebuilt engine, iirc He was told it has been sitting for 10 years.

I was also told 10 years .... after working on it I say at least 20 years by the condition the wheel cylinders were in.

 

I did nothing special to prime it, I had problems getting it started and had to find TDC and set the new plug wires I installed correctly.

Just turning the engine over I could see the oil pressure gauge move ....  maybe 2 or 3 psi.

 

My first truck that I never finished, I know my Uncle bought it from a farmer then did nothing with it. It sat for at least 40 years.

Same thing, just turn the engine over and could see the oil pressure gauge move.

It would not start either, stuck valves & no compression ..... just turning the engine over primed the oil system.

 

I know Bingster was talking about wiring, I do not know how he is going to wire the engine for starting it.

If he uses the key to turn it on and the push button to operate the starter ..... just leave the key off so no power goes to the coil while turning the engine to prime it.

If he will bypass the original wiring and run a jumper wire to the coil .... same thing just do not put power to the coil while priming.

 

@Bingster is being very careful and thorough on the startup of this engine .... If that engine is capable of running he will get it started right away.

Would be a good idea to prime the oil system before actually trying to start it.

Just turn the engine over with no power getting to the points will be enough. I've always added some sort of oil to the cylinders to soak so lubrication is not a issue.

[kencombs]

I have always packed oil pumps with vaseline before installation.   provides for almost instant oil pickup, been doing it since the '60s.

[Ivan_B]

1 hour ago, Doug&Deb said:

None of this is helping Bingster get his engine started.

I think we are complicating things, here, to a quite unreasonable degree... A lot of different threads, and very little progress. At this kind of pace, the car will be sitting for many more years, until it is passed to someone else.

Unless, of course, we are not interested in actually using it, but talking about using it instead ?

Edited October 19, 2023 by Ivan_B

[Bingster]

Maybe so, but it would be real easy for me to omit something important that is routine to you fellas but new to me due to my inexperience. And then yes, I'd probably throw the wrench in.