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Engine Rebuild - First Start

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Dace

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Ref BN7 3000
Following and engine rebuild and installation during the summer I hope to be in a position to start the engine for the first time shortly. Assuming I've got all the timing and carb setting within spec are there any does and don'ts or tips members can pass on to avoid any tears following a long and painfull rebuild process, e.g broken components, items being rebuilt only to remove them again for access, scrapped knuckles and the odd time being reduced to sitting in a dark corner of the garage whimpering and wondering why I ever started!
 
Dance,

Congratulations!! a real milestone, good on you. You are absolutly correct in checking with the pros before firing up your motor. What I know of this is that you will need to seat the cam parts which involves having break-in grease on the cam and running it at such and such RPMs for a given number of miniutes.

Wiser and more experienced ones should chime in here. Again congrats !!!!!
 
Dace,

Two suggestions:

1. Prime oil pump by pumping oil into the pump via the oil filter housing opening located on the block.

2. Purchase a pressurized can of engine pre-lube and pre -oil the engine prior to the first start up.

3. Pull spark plugs and rotate engine with starter motor until you have oil pressure indicated on the gauge.


Good Luck!!!

Ray
 
dace,im sure you know that "prelube" as mentioned here is very important, ive found having someone standing by the ignition key is a good idea in case for some reason the engine runs off on you, years ago id seen this happen to a guy starting the engine for the first time using the button on the starter solenoid, didnt make it back to the key on time! also a fire extingusher standing by just might come in handy. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
Do we think pre lube really is that important?

I've assembled engines in the past with a smear of oil, cranked them with the plugs out and then fired up!
 
I have to admitt Burgundy, that I have also done it that way. Coat all things with breakin lube during assembly and hit the starter when ready. Now, if you have tuned it wrong or some other misassembly and you end up cranking it a wittle bit tooo long and no start, then I might start thinking of how to get some extra lubication to the right places. Also start it from the drivers seat. a couple of reasons, if something blows at least your behind the cowling, and if the oil pressure doesn't appear on the gauge momentarily upon firing, the key is right there. Usually you will see oil pressure before the engine fires. But I have seen a new engine start and run for a painful length of time before the oil pressure shows up. 15 or 20 seconds when your waiting for oil pressure on a new engine is an eternity.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Do we think pre lube really is that important?

I've assembled engines in the past with a smear of oil, cranked them with the plugs out and then fired up!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes it is important, but should have been installed during the build up phase.---Fwiw--Keoke
 
As Keoke says - Yes, it's important. If the cam & lifters are new, it's especially important to coat them with a good moly cam lube & once the engine is started, run it continuously for 20 minutes or so at 2,000 rpm so that the cam will get extra splash lube during it's critical start up - break in. Running a couple of minutes & then stopping & restarting is a good way to scuff the cam or lifters, so be absolutely sure that everything is ready to go & able to run for 20 minutes before having to stop.

If you are not breaking in a new cam, it is less critical, but still important. The first dry start on new parts is likely to cause more wear than 20,000 miles of running. As above, a new cam likely won't survive the first dry start.

Some have gotten by with lesser measures, but it is a crap shoot.
D
 
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