Serp engine build and new cam. Prime oil pump???
Discussion
I'm just putting my engine back together. work has included tophat liners and a new cam. I have read that it is not necessary to prime a serp oil pump but obviously I'm keen to get the oil pumping as quickly as possible.
My thinking was to fit the oil filter to the front cover before re-fitting the cover and then get as much oil in the filter and journals as possible by feeding it down from the pump. Then re-fit the cover. Does that sound a sensible approach? Do I need to pack the pump as well?
I've got lots of cam lube which will be applied liberally.
My thinking was to fit the oil filter to the front cover before re-fitting the cover and then get as much oil in the filter and journals as possible by feeding it down from the pump. Then re-fit the cover. Does that sound a sensible approach? Do I need to pack the pump as well?
I've got lots of cam lube which will be applied liberally.
spend said:
Just squirt oil down the oil pressure switch hole to fill the pump body, if you don't fully trust the self priming. One owner managed to lunch his front end by removing the pump cover plate IIRC.
My cover plate is already off. And the bit that frightened me most was that nearly all of the screws were loose 
So I think I'll do both. Get as much oil in as I can then pack the pump as well. I'm not taking any chances.
And I'll be making sure the screws do not come loose again
daveb500 said:
spend said:
Just squirt oil down the oil pressure switch hole to fill the pump body, if you don't fully trust the self priming. One owner managed to lunch his front end by removing the pump cover plate IIRC.
My cover plate is already off. And the bit that frightened me most was that nearly all of the screws were loose So I think I'll do both. Get as much oil in as I can then pack the pump as well. I'm not taking any chances.
And I'll be making sure the screws do not come loose again
Carrying over practices from the old style dizzy driven pumps is short-sighted IMO, they are quite different & distinct mechanisms?
Most do nothing to prime, as I mentioned earlier you can pre-fill everything (filter as well - but it can take a day to really fill..) if you want quicker pressure - but none of it helps if the pump doesn't work
There are safer alternatives like oil accumulators blasting a pre-oil and external pumps (drill driven or I use a brake bleeder suction pump to slurp oil up), but I think its only a few of us with oil coolers and longer pipe runs that deem that necessary?
Get a piece of round bar around 13mm diameter 300mm long, cut a flat on one end to match the distributor drive,(the dizzy links cam and oil pump drive on the earlier type pumps)you must also fit a tube over the end to stop it spinning off then spin with a drill until you get pressure, refit the dizzy and start engine. Job done. Takes ten minutes to make and takes all the risk away.
Of course serps are a different kettle of fish, but as i understand it the later crank driven pumps don't have a problem priming anyway.
Of course serps are a different kettle of fish, but as i understand it the later crank driven pumps don't have a problem priming anyway.
Edited by sphs2 on Tuesday 23 March 21:39
sphs2 said:
Get a piece of round bar around 13mm diameter 300mm long, cut a flat on one end to match the distributor drive,(the dizzy links cam and oil pump drive on the earlier type pumps)you must also fit a tube over the end to stop it spinning off then spin with a drill until you get pressure, refit the dizzy and start engine. Job done. Takes ten minutes to make and takes all the risk away.
It would if it were a pre serp 
Johno said:
sphs2 said:
Get a piece of round bar around 13mm diameter 300mm long, cut a flat on one end to match the distributor drive,(the dizzy links cam and oil pump drive on the earlier type pumps)you must also fit a tube over the end to stop it spinning off then spin with a drill until you get pressure, refit the dizzy and start engine. Job done. Takes ten minutes to make and takes all the risk away.
It would if it were a pre serp 
A crank driven trochoidal oil pump should prime up no problem as long as the pump is oiled and the oil filter brimmed with fresh oil soon as she fires up,just watch the gauge like an hawk if no oil presseure after a few seconds then shut it down and investigate with the motor running it should take very little longer than it does with an oil & filter change using this method(forget the Vas) 
if you have the pump apart then examine the components what your looking for is squaring off of the lobes and scoring these parts are available seperate from the likes of V8 developments etc
if you have the pump apart then examine the components what your looking for is squaring off of the lobes and scoring these parts are available seperate from the likes of V8 developments etc Edited by Simon Says on Wednesday 24th March 12:33
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