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Oil Pressure guage....

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terriphill

Darth Vader
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1977 Mg Midget. I recently pulled the 1500 motor in it (spun bearing) and replaced it with a rebuilt triumph 1500 motor. My oil pressure guage worked when I pulled it and now it won't read any oil pressure. I tried pulling the line and running a small wire in to clear any "plugs" but it still doesn't show pressure. Any ideas?
 
Ummm... none with any easy answers. You spinning it on the starter only, or has it had a few seconds of run time?
 
It is running. Oil is being pumped up into the rockers, motor sounds great, actually runs (until the starter went out anyway, but that'a another issue that is being resolved) The guage was working with the other motor which is why I thought it might be stopped up or something.
 
You didn't put a kink in the capillary tube did you?
 
I'm all for rigging up another gauge at the OP take-off point on the block. Easy for me to say, I know... but adaptors and a cheap pressure gauge would go a long way to assuring me there's pressure in the galley... and sort out the dashboard one after the fact. Gotta be a blockage or a kink if you've got a "second opinion" from a gauge at the fitting showing pressure.
 
Thanks! That's easy and we actually have fittings that we could rig up to check it at the source. We will pick up a guage and see if that's the problem. I looked for kinks, but I will check again more intently. I haven't driven the car yet so if its oil pump, I can work on replacing that and put off the first drive another week.
This is why we spend our nights on this forum. You guys are great for new ideas.
 
I had the exact same thing happen a few years ago- turned out that a screw inside the gauge had loosened and the pinion no longer meshed with the rack inside. Tightened up the screw and the gauge still works years later. Easy fix.
Bill
 
I sure wouldn't start the engine again until I was certain I had oil pressure, Terri.
Unless, of course, you enjoy changing bearings. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Jeff
 
Terri,

It's pretty easy to turn the oil pump without turning over the engine. You can pull your dizzy and the dizzy drive gear and turn the oil pump shaft with a long, slot screw driver on an electric drill. This should give you enough pressure to test your gauges without doing further damage to bearings. Be sure to run the drill counter clockwise.

Also, if you have a Harbor Frieght near by, you should be able to pick up a gauge there pertty durn cheap.
 
Obviously I didn't have the oil pressure. It is pumping it throught the rockers and I see it but guess what....I get to do now. You were right. I wish I had read this before I went out this am and put on the new starter. It has definitely got the bearing clatter. OH Boy....I get to try again. YOu know what they say....third times a charm. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/sick.gif
 
Just think of all the valuable learning you are getting the privilege to do. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Sorry to hear of your troubles. You'll get there.
 
WOW! Thanks for the tip. This worked beautifully and I found it is pumping really well. I removed the oil pressure line and found it was clogged the whole time. Blew it out and hope it wokrs better. Didn't stop the clatter in the motor thought. Its amazing how easy it gets the third time you have to disconnect everything! Just a couple of bolts left and I'll be ready to pull the motor (AGAIN!)
 
*sigh*

Sounds as though there's a galley run plugged someplace. Did you have the crank 'boiled' or clear the passages personally? So many things...
 
Yeah. Lessons learned... "Trust everyone. But CUT THE CARDS!"
 
WAIT! Before you pull the motor out, pull the oil pan and check your main bearings and thrust bearing. I have had several experiences where I KNEW my bearings where bad because there was banging or clatter only to discover a loose bracket, bent lifter, unsecured fuel filter banging against the frame, etc. was what was actually making the noise.

Also, it's quite easy to replace the bearings with the engine in the car... that is if you are lucky enough that your journals are still in good shape.
 
Without sounding too stupid....Can I pull the oil pan without pulling the motor? I am working out of my house garage and space is a minimum. I have an engine hoist and stand which makes it as easy to pull the motor and work on it out of the car rather than trying to jack it up high enough to crawl around under it. (I have already disconnected everything this afternoon and with the exception of the motor mounts, its ready to come out)
 
I spent my day disconnecting and readying it to be pulled anyway. I have an engine hoist and a a stand which actually makes it easier to work on than trying to jack it up high enough to crawl around under it. We figure one of two things went wrong...
1. We screwed it up reving it too high when we were trying to figure out timing and carb adjustment, which threw out the bearing before it had a chance to idle and set correctly.

2. Something went wrong in the rebuild.

I really want a car that is a dependable and a daily driver (O.K. from what I've been reading maybe I shouldn't have bought a midget) but, we rebuilt a 1986 Toyota SUpra that we sould to a young man from New Orleans who flew in and drove it home (Yes, I was holding my breathe and relieved when he called to let me know he made it safely) So, I can do this. Its just so much more different than anything we have worked on before.

At least this time I have this forum and lots of you guys to consult so, stay tuned....... the fun begins AGAIN.
 
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