First Time Start up and break in???

[Morris]

Hey Guys,

Took the day off work to put the engine back in car. Do you have any wisdom for first time start-up procedure and break in?

 

[jlaird]

Fluids, oil pressure.

 

[jcatnite]

If you installed a new cam, there should be a break-in procedure for it. It varies by cam but it involves a sustained high speed run to seat the lifters with the lobes. Other than that, take it easy on the old girl and let her break in slow. Don't just let it idle for a long time though. It is good to vary the engine speed and load a bit to seat the rings.
JC

 

[aeronca65t]

Crank it with the coil disconnected until you get oil pressure.

Then start it and hold the RPM at 2000 to 2500 for at least 15 minutes. Some folks like to have a large box fan in front of the engine to prevent overheating, but you may not need it.

Don't let a new engine sit at idle too much at first....it needs at least 2000 RPM to churn up the oil to get good splash lubrication to the cam and piston bottoms.

I like light oil (like 5W-30) for break in. Then change the oil and filter after about an hour of running (then I'd use 10W-40 or 20W-50 oil).

Keep the shift RPM below 3500 for a few hours and accelerate gently.

I like to "burp" the cooling system too. Remove the cap and squeeze the lower hose to get all the air out.

 

[Morris]

No new cam. Just new bearings, valve springs, pistons, and rings.

While the engine was out and upside down, I filled each of the pistons with oil and turned the fly wheel a few times. I fairly drenched everything that moves with STP.

Engine is in the car now. That is a PITA one-man job, lemme tell you. But still I managed get her in under three hours so I was not charged extra for the engine lift. I rule!!!

We could be on the road as early as tomorrow night!

 

[jollyroger]

may be too late but all the above sounds good. Make sure and pull the spark plugs before you spin for oil pressure. Hope ya put some assembly lube on the new bearings. Just start it up and drive it.

 

[Morris]

I am planning to spin up oil pressure using a cordless drill before turning the motor over the first time. Does anyone know which way the oil pump turns? Clockwise or counter clockwise?

I used STP for assembly lube. Several people advised me that is the way to go.

 

[DrEntropy]

If I'm ~certain~ it'll be in the car and started soon, I'll use white grease, otherwise if it may sit a while or go into a baggie I mix a "slurry" of STP and oil 50/50 and assemble it with that.

Not sure about oil pump rotation.

 

[dklawson]

Your profile says '79 Midget. Is that the 1500? If so, I believe Triumph engines all spin the pump CCW when you pull the dizzy and look down at the top of the oil pump drive. I guess you have to be talking about the 1500... I can't think of a way to access the pump on an A-series that wouldn't involve having the transmission off.

 

[DrEntropy]

I think I'd spin it onna starter, plugs out, coil +V disconnected...

 

[Bugeye58]

Morris, the pump spins CCW, but you'll need an adapter shaft from your drill to the pump, after you pull the distributor drive gear.
Jeff

 

[jcatnite]

A long screwdriver blade will work but I don't think it is worth the trouble. Just pull the plugs so you don't put any compression on the engine and spin her up till you build oil pressure. After you do that a couple of times. Fire the old girl up and drive her around like your grandpa would. Oh and btw, 3 hours... not to bad. You do rock bud. No clutch when you start it either...no sense in putting any weird pressure on the crank axially till the bearings seat.
JC

 

[Bugeye58]

JC, that is probably what I would do for a street engine. But, I have this spiffy, stainless steel, oil pump driveshaft that I made, so what the heck. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jeff