Priming the oil pump

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Since I had just got an engine for one of my cubs back from the machine shop i decided to try an experiment. Rather than assembling everything and then pumping oil into the galleries I used some of the 140 oil left over from my Rotavator and wiped a coat of it on the oil pump gears and inside the housing before reassembling. That stuff sticks to everything. When I got it all back together I left the spark plugs out and the oil filter cover off. When I pulled the starter rod it took about 2 seconds for a steady stream of oil to start running into the filter housing, so I put the cover back on filter and put the spark plugs in (yes, I found them). When I started it I had oil pressure in about 10 seconds, which is the normal amount of time required to build pressure on a cub. I suspect chainsaw bar and chain oil would work quite well for this also.

[Jim Becker]

A thorough covering with some lube should be part of assembling any engine oil pump. My dad pretty well indoctrinated me on 30 weight engine oil (of course those engines were typically started within a day or so of assembly). In the day, many used chassis grease. I think it is pretty common practice these days to use an engine assembly grease like Lubriplate.

[Mike in Louisiana]

I have also used "STP" years ago.

[RUSSALL]

I have used petroleum jelly to prime oil pumps with great results.


Russ



Also using engine lube on bearings ect...

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I always lubed them with 30 motor oil, but still had to prime them. The gear oil eliminated the priming.

[KETCHAM]

I go with Russall on this one!!.Works great!!! Kevin

[Scrivet]

Let's see there's petroleum jelly for the oil pump, and chapstick for the carb gasket, anything else I need to get while I'm at the cosmetics counter?

[grumpy]

Baby powder to pinpoint oil leaks

[Redcub]

Scrivet: Nail polish for thread torque seal.