Firing up an engine for the first time.
• The battery / ies must be fully charged.
• Fill the engine to the maximum mark with running in oil.
• With the spark plugs removed, crank the engine until the oil light
goes
out or the pressure gauge reads at least half normal pressure.
• Check the oil level and refill as necessary.
• Fit the spark plugs.
• Start the engine.
• Hold the engine at 2000 rpm for 10-15 minutes to bed in the camshaft.
• If you have a problem....switch the engine off, do not let the engine
idle
as this may damage the camshaft and followers( lifters).
• After bedding in the camshaft, reset the tappets ( valve lash)...remember
you
need a hot clearance.
• Set the ignition to the required setting.
• Set the carburetion.
• Check for oil and water leaks.
• Check for loose nuts and bolts.
Running in a new engine.
• Do not let the engine labour...cruise up hills in a lower gear.
• Do not hold the engine in higher gears to see what it will rev to.
• Until the engine has bedded in the friction will be high between the
rings and the bores.
Excessive heat build up can soften the rings and damage the bores.
• Drive the car fairly spiritedly in the lower gears...this will aid
bedding in.
Bursts of 5000 to 6000 rpm will not hurt the engine in the first two gears.
• Keep an eye on your oil level...running in oil is thin!
• Change the running in oil to the correct grade of oil when you have
reached the
mileage recommended by your engine builder/oil supplier.
Running in oil
• Modern oils are excellent at preventing engine wear..........
unfortunately!......you need the engine to wear in a controlled manner.
Running in oil is usually a straight 30 weight oil with no additives.
• If the engine is run in using oil with additives there is a good chance
it
will burn oil for the rest of it's life! The additives prevent the rings bedding
into the bores,
the high spots in the bores bend over and work harden......these little pockets
retain
oil which burns when exposed to the burning mixture!
Which cylinder is firing at TDC with a newly fitted distributor
• Turn the engine to the tdc mark on the pulley.
• Remove the rocker cover and check whether number 1 or number 4 cylinder
has valve clearance....the cylinder firing has the valve clearance.
• With the distributor cap removed, turn the distributor till the points
are open,
or chopper cuts the beam or magnet is adjacent to the pulse switch.
• Refit the distributor cap noting which post is closest to the rotor
arm...the lead
from this is fitted to the spark plug on the cylinder which is firing.
• The other cylinders can be worked out with firing order and direction
of distributor
spindle rotation.