Hitchcocks Forum

Hi, just put everything back together, piston, barrel, head, new oil spindal, new worm, new oil pumps new quill bolt, filter. Filled with just over 2lts oil.(into the timing cover and through the dip stick, I had pre filled the oil filter so should have about the right amount.

On turning the motor over i am not getting any oil up the tube to the rockers, if i disconnect the tube at the bottom no oil there either. What am i missing? The oil pumps are being turned by the spindle so are working mechanically as they should. Any tips? Thanks Andrew

The rocker feed is a scavenge from the crankcase sump. If you have not primed the sump, then there is nothing for the pump to pick up until sufficient oil gathers there from the feed side. TTFN Jack

As Jack says just beat me to it.

Ok, how do i prime the sump?

Not sure you can once all is assembled. If you just start it & run it slow it will prime itself.

Ok so just fire her up? If i were to prime it what would i need to do before i put it all back together??

It's just a matter of getting oil downstairs for the scavenge pump to oil your rockers asap. It won't take long to prime itself anyway. The scavenge pump keeps the sump pretty empty under normal running & pumps 50% air most of the time.

To prime the big end and crankcase [sump], put some of the same oil you have put into the engine into a 'squirty' type oil can. Remove the quill bolt from the timing cover, some oil will probably escape from here seeing as you say you have primed the timing chest. Squirt about 20 pumps of oil into the end of the crank via the worm nut seal, then replace the quill bolt. Remove the tappet adjustment cover and squirt about the same amount down the tappet drain holes, this will replace the oil you lost earlier. Another, easier way is to pour some oil into the crankcase via the breather pipe, but the big end doesn't get any of it directly this way.

If you've lubricated everything as you should on reassemble, no harm will come of running for the minute or so it will take to prime. If you've assembled it dry then do as BW says and also squirt some into the rockers.

Spot on, thanks guys for all the info. Just the timing to do and then pray for the dry weather.