No Oil Pressure

[LeoM]

I am reassembling an engine which had all new internals installed by a local machine shop. When I got the engine the crank, cam, pistons, and valves were installed and the head was bolted on. I installed the timing gears and cover and crankshaft pulley. I checked the torque on the rod and main bearings installed the flywheel and installed a new oil pressure control spring. Filled the crankcase with oil and installed the starter. With the spark plugs removed I spun the engine and I primed the oil pump through hole in the oil filter cavity. I had removed the 1/8 " pipe plug located above the oil pump and when oil flowed out I reinstalled it. I spun the engine for 10 to 15 seconds and then let it sit for a few minutes. I repeated this 3 times but got no oil pressure. I removed the oil filter cap and there was no oil in the filter cavity. My only thought is that the oil pressure control valve is passing oil. Any other ideas on what may be the problem would be appreciated.

[Bill E Bob]

Did the machine shop reinstall the oil galley plugs? Best way to tell is look behind the cam gear for the main oil galley plug.
Don't ask how I know

[ricky racer]

You will likely not be able to crank over the engine an see oil pressure register. You will need to start the engine and let it run for about 5-10 seconds before you see oil pressure on the gauge. You know the pump is primed and putting out oil from the check you made removing the 1/8" pipe plug. I would start the engine and watch for oil pressure to build but it will take a few seconds to register. If it runs for much more than 10 seconds without building oil pressure, you'll need to pull the hydraulic pump and using a mirror, do the inspection that Bill E Bob recommended. Good luck and report back with what you find.

[LeoM]

Ricky
I am a novice so please bare with me. The oil pump is behind the flywheel and the cam gear is behind the timing gear cover on the other end of the engine. I don't understand the methodology of using a mirror to do the inspection.

Bill E Bob
Is the main oil galley plug visible through the openings in the cam gear that are used to tighten the thrust plate bolts ?

[Bill E Bob]

It is. Rick was referring to removing the Hydraulic pump (front of the engine) and using a mirror to avoid having to remove the timing cover.

[Glen]

Hi,
Below is a pic from TM Tractor of the front of the engine with the cover off. The oil passage plug is to the upper left of the camshaft hole, left in the pic.
There is another plug in the valve area, visible with the valve cover removed.
I think the other plugs are on the outside of the engine.
I don't know if any of the plugs are not in place. The engine might need to be run to build up oil pressure, like Ricky said above.

[ricky racer]

I guess it doesn't look like you can see it through the hydraulic pump mounting hole using a mirror....
Regardless, you won't see oil pressure while cranking the engine, you'll need to start it up. And then it will take several nerve racking seconds before you see any pressure on the gauge.

[tst]

the other plug that is forgotten and left out is behind the valve cover by the 4th cylinder valve springs

[Eugene]

Spark plugs out. Prime the oil pump using the hole inside the oil filter housing, front edge, down a bit. Leave the oil filter cover off.

Crank engine over observing the opening inside the oil filter housing. Oil should start flowing into the opening in 5 or 10 seconds.

There is a drain in the bottom of the oil filter housing. If you don't get any flowing oil in 25 or 30 seconds, got a problem, most likely a missing plug in oil galleries.

Oil pressure relief valve, not normally a problem. If it's a problem, normally stuck closed.

Edit. There is a small orifice in the bottom of the bolt that holds the cover onto the housing. Missing orifice or farmer fixed bolt, problem, won't build up oil pressure.

2nd edit. Check out all possibilities before concluding that the oil gallery plug behind the cam gear is missing. It's a major undertaking replacing that plug.

[ricky racer]

Good answer Eugene!

[LeoM]

Thank you all very much. I am going to continue building the engine to get it started in the engine stand. I'll let you know what I find.

[LeoM]

Finally got the time to focus on this issue. I got the engine started yesterday and still had no oil pressure. I removed the valve cover on the side of the engine and found the 1/8" plug located between number 3 and number 4 lifters was missing. Installed a new plug restarted the engine and immediately got a shower of oil from the oil filter cover that I forgot to retighten. Engine holds 25 psi oil pressure at low idle.

I won't bore you with all the rookie mistakes I made during this adventure but it was quite a learning lesson.

Thank you all for your support. I'm sure I'll be back for more.

[BigBill]

I put together a used Sb Chevy oil pump with hydraulic fittings and hoses to prime my rebuilt gravely tractors before start up. Since it has a 1/8” npt thread it should fit the c60 engines.

I have a distributor shaft I drive with a 1/2’ triple gear reduction drill to prime Sb/ bb Chevy engines.

I prime the oil systems before I start them up plus there pre lubed with moly.

If you watch gas monkey garage with new engines the builder didn’t pre lubevthem with moly. They ruined cams and bearings.