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MG MGA - Necessary precautions for a starter test??

This Saturday I plan to turn the motor over using the starter. This is a completely rebuilt 1500 motor. Before I pull the starter I will take the following precautions:

1. Fill the oil pan to full
2. Disconnect the ignition coil and plugs
3. Squirt a small amount of lubricant in the cyclinders to avoid any friction damage
4. Let the motor crank until oil pressure stabilizes. I've been told that I will hear less friction as the oil pump does its job and the sound changes dramatically.

Is there anything else I should consider before I pull the starter cable?
gerard hutchinson

Gerard; I would suggest that you use a garden pressure pot to install the oil. If you pump the oil in through the oil pressure switch hole you will completely oil all the internal moving parts. This too will prime the oil pump.I use a pressure sprayer from K-Mart and run the hose to an oil line fitting. Put the required amount of oil in the sprayer- pump it up and open the valve letting all the oil into the engine.You will even have oil coming upto the rocker shaft.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

Gerard; I would suggest that you use a garden pressure pot to install the oil. If you pump the oil in through the oil pressure switch hole you will completely oil all the internal moving parts. This too will prime the oil pump.I use a pressure sprayer from K-Mart and run the hose to an oil line fitting. Put the required amount of oil in the sprayer- pump it up and open the valve letting all the oil into the engine.You will even have oil coming upto the rocker shaft.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

Sandy,
Are you saying that I should not prime the pump by cranking the starter?
gerard hutchinson

By using the starter only the bearings both main and rod do not get lubricated until after the pump is primed and then they get oiled. My way assures that all bearing surfaces have oil before the starter even turns it. over. I have used this system for over 40 years now and have never had a bearing problem on hundreds of engines.
I picked up this idea in 1949 when taking the factory course at OMM (outboard Marine Manufacturers)they built Johnson and Evinrude engines in Canada.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

Gerard,
A couple of other thoughts fill the oil filter up as much as possible and disconnect the wires to the fuel pump as you don't need to have gas flowing to the carbs and filling the cylinders with unburned fuel.
Tony
Tony Shoviak

No need to disconnect the pump if the ignition is off!
Neil McGurk

Gerard, is it safe to assume that the engine was put back together with an assembly pre-lube (of some sort)?



G Goeppner

If you filled the pump with Vaseline or something similar, and used asembly lube, you just need to crank on the starter with the key in the off position until pressure registers at the gauge. Good to have someone looking at the engine in case something starts spewing oil while you are cranking.

Once pressure registers at the gauge, it will climb / stabilise very quickly to the max pressure you achieve. It may take a minute or so to show pressure depending on the state of starter / battery. Having no spark plugs in the head gives the starter an easier job. No need to touch any electrics anywhere on the car as long as the ignition is off.

As there is no pressure switch on the 1500 block, not sure what Sandy means by this. If Pressure relief valve is intended, it's a swine to get back in with the engine in the car, and I would personally say don't touch it. If it's the connection for the gauge feed, I have no idea if that will help or not.
dominic clancy

Not arguing with any of the advice. My question is what is the next step? Do you then intend to fire up the engine in the very near future? What then? Is it going to sit for months until the rest of the rebuild is done?

IMHO a lot of damage could be done if all the assembly lube is washed off and the engine then left for a long period before firing up and breaking in.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,
That is a good question. The engine is ready to start. I have been testing my electrical system component by component leaving the starter and ignition for last. With some gas and work on the carbs I could start the engine soon. However, I still have quite a bit to do before I'm driving the car on a regular basis. I could countinue to start the car from time to time but you correctly point out that it will sit for some time.
gerard hutchinson

Neil,
If the engine is being turned over with the starter there still will be power to the fuel pump and it will be pumping raw gas into the cylinders which will wash down and mix with the oil. Granted you will not have ignition . But you don't want you fresh oil diluted with gas.
Tony
Tony Shoviak

Tony

No. With the ignition off the fuel pump is isolated. It will not be pumping.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Sorry, my appologies to Neil, I was thinking of my MGB, not my MGA. The first time I primed the engine in the B, I did not disconnect the pump and had gas fumes all over.

Tony
Tony Shoviak

I use the oil pressure line to apply oil to the engine. This is the same one that operates either a gauge or idiot light.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

I always leave the spark plugs out so it cranks faster and places less load on the starter.
R J Brown

Steve makes a really good point. When I fired up my engine for the first time it was another 2 years before I was finally able to hit the road.

My glee with that first drive however was short lived -by the time I reached the end of my driveway a valve stuck open. Luckily there was no damage, but it did necessitate a complete strip down (head off etc) to fix.

My advice would be to delay the start-up or make sure you run the engine periodically to keep things lubed.
S HILL

This thread was discussed between 27/03/2008 and 28/03/2008

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