Questions about first start up after rebuild

[fishingman220]

well i finally finished my motor and will be going in the boat tomorrow but a few questions before i turn the key. (96 mercruiser 5.7, 2bbl mercarb, alpha one) first, i do not have anything to prime the oil pump, do i really need to? or will putting the oil in the valve covers right before i crank do the trick? or do i need to go buy a tool for my drill? Second i put moly ring is the motor, all i did was rering and bearing the motor, what i planned on doing was fire it up here, varying the rpm and just go thorugh a heat cycle and re tighten everything, then taking it down to the marina and do the break in for an hour at the dock varying the rpms and then bring it home and change the oil, then have fun fishing this fall. now am i doing to much? or not enough? any thought will do wonders, thanks for looking

 

[Apollo75]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

well i finally finished my motor and will be going in the boat tomorrow but a few questions before i turn the key. (96 mercruiser 5.7, 2bbl mercarb, alpha one) first, i do not have anything to prime the oil pump, do i really need to? or will putting the oil in the valve covers right before i crank do the trick? or do i need to go buy a tool for my drill? Second i put moly ring is the motor, all i did was rering and bearing the motor, what i planned on doing was fire it up here, varying the rpm and just go thorugh a heat cycle and re tighten everything, then taking it down to the marina and do the break in for an hour at the dock varying the rpms and then bring it home and change the oil, then have fun fishing this fall. now am i doing to much? or not enough? any thought will do wonders, thanks for looking

This is just my opinion

And you don't look confused Old oil pump, do not need to prime the engine, good 400-grid cross hatch ---> molly rings seat fast. I would not bother to re-torque the heads until you get some hours on it , changing oil and filter again so soon ---> filter will do its job and catch the initial wear, I would wait for 10-to-20 hrs.

This is not gospel ---- do what ever makes you feel comfortable

Great job

OFM

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

New rings new cam rod and crank bearings thats it? Normally an oil pump priming is a must, but in this case I don't know.

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

new oil pump, new rings, new rod and main bearings, everything else the same

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

how long would you do break in?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

Did you prime the oil pump before installing it? If not your going to have to do now. the critical break in moments effect the cam lobes being they rely on oil spalsh from the crank, you don't have any worry there, the rings are going to wear into bores not much worry there either, nothing critical about bearings as long as you oil pump primes up. Just my opinion. Drive it like you stole it and it's done. Well technically you should go with the ring manufacture's suggestions on break in.

 

[Don S]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

The oil pump priming tool is not just for priming the pump, it's used to turn the engines oil pump to prime the complete oiil system. Actually build up oil pressure in the engine without the engine turning over or running. Good way to check for leaks too.
Any newly assembled engine should be primed this way. It gets all the air bubbles out of the way, and oil to all the bearings BEFORE you ever try to start the engine.
It's even a good practice to do before cranking an old engine that has been setting for 3 or more years. It just gets the oil where it will do the job before starting the engine.

Detailed breakin procedures are in the OEM service manual.

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

how long can i wait after i prime it before i start it? i cannot get a drill ontop the dizzy hole after in the boat

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

Pre-Oiling is the best way to go before you fire a motor, and also test bed running allows you to check everything for leakage BEFORE it gets installed.

 

[Apollo75]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

I am assuming you used assembly lube with molly or similar anti-wear ingredient on the bearings, cam and anything that touches or rubs. Poured some oil down the oil pick-up when the engine was upside down, oiled the cylinder walls when pistons were installed, etc.,

No new cam ----> molly rings will break in fast --- usually by the time a new cam is broke in.

Cast iron and hard chrome ----> different animals.

Prime it and use it

OFM

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

how long can i wait after i prime it before i start it? i cannot get a drill ontop the dizzy hole after in the boat

Once the pump is prime it's going to pump oil doesn't matter how long it sits, but if the new pump has not had oil poured into it before assembling pickup tube and bolted to motor it will not pump unless your very lucky, so definately buy the tool or make one and get that oil pumping first, you don't want to destroy the new bearings, don't worry about the time between once it's primed you'll be fine.

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

I would NOT fire the motor until it was properly primed...especially on a non-roller cam...the only thing that lubes the cam is splash from the crank/rods...

you risk spinning bearings in a non-primed engine and that will cause all kinds of grief...if you dont have room use a flexible drill extension...

I would HIGHLY recommend firing the motor before it goes in...I have a run stand at my shop and I test fire every engine before it gets nested in its new home....

I can properly break them in this way way and check for leaks...although I dont have leaks...this way you take some variable out of the equation...

 

[Don S]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

how long can i wait after i prime it before i start it? i cannot get a drill ontop the dizzy hole after in the boat

Like Bt stated. Prime it, finish putting it together and start it on block before you install it in the boat.
That way you can check for leaks, set timing, check things before putting it in the boat. I would never rebuild an engine and intall it in anything without running it first.
Just hook up water to the thermostat housing as if it was in the boat. hook up fuel and battery and run it. Way to easy. Don't need a lot of exhaust stuff. If it makes you feel good, pull the Y off the transom shield and hook to the risers. I just leave the risers open and run it.
After you install it, it just a quick final check on idle speed and leaks before you hit the water.


EDIT: I see dr bowtie, Bt doctur and I all look at running before installing the same way.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

I would NOT fire the motor until it was properly primed...especially on a non-roller cam...the only thing that lubes the cam is splash from the crank/rods...

you risk spinning bearings in a non-primed engine and that will cause all kinds of grief...if you dont have room use a flexible drill extension...

I would HIGHLY recommend firing the motor before it goes in...I have a run stand at my shop and I test fire every engine before it gets nested in its new home....

I can properly break them in this way way and check for leaks...although I dont have leaks...this way you take some variable out of the equation...

You can't PROPERLY break in an engine on a test stand, no torque, you can run the cam and test for leaks but that's about it.

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

well on the back of the motor i have a big plug for the dizzy, how would that fire without being hooked to the boat? also, i have a compleat closed cooling system, what do i do with that? i dont really want to fire it on the stand its on, its only rated for 750lbs and i have a block on the end holding up the front of the motor

 

[Don S]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

You don't fire it while on the stand. Sit the engine on the ground. Flywheel housing on a 2X4 and block up the side mounts so you have the engine level or front slightly higher. The water hose hooks to the heat exchanger, not the thermostat housing. Then you just "Hot Wire" the engine for power.
Battery + to starter, - to block or flywheel cover ground stud.
Ignition will be a hot wire from battery + to the + terimanal on the coil.

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

You can't PROPERLY break in an engine on a test stand, no torque, you can run the cam and test for leaks but that's about it.

you are VERY wrong here....I can properly break them in this way...you WANT to break them in unloaded...any engine..loading an engine during breakin in can do alots of damage...not limited too but including detonation...

Factory pre-run engines are ALL run no load...even racing engine broken in on a dyno are run and broken in before a loaded dyno run is done...

not sure how you feel how running an engine at initial fire up is not considered a full break in but it is...you mission is to seat the rings and create the wear pattern on the cam...this all happens in the 1st 20 minutes of the initial run...

Even a simple flat tappet cam if not broken in right can eat itself in as little as 20 miles of driving...

Please Fisherman save yourself some grief and prime that engine and run it...

I some were close I would opt to run them for you...but I cant be everywhere...lol

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

i will def prime it, the cam is the old cam so shouldnt that already be broken in?

 

[Apollo75]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

i will def prime it, the cam is the old cam so shouldnt that already be broken in?

Yea, it is broke in --- no worries

That engine looks so nice it brings a tear to my eye


Best of luck

OFM

 

[fishingman220]

Re: Questions about first start up after rebuild

thank you, so all i need to do is prime the oil pump and system, and break in the rings correct?