To spin the oil pump and pre-lube an R- or U- engine, you need
to pull the distributor, mount pedestal, and drive gear. The distributor
tang fits into a slot on the top of the drive gear - this gear is what is
turned by the camshaft/jackshaft and no you can't spin the pump with
it in place.
Set the engine to TDC (use the timing pointer), points opening on #1
cylinder. Mark where the rotor is pointing. Pull the distributor. Unfasten
the oil feed line and tach drive at the pedestal, then unbolt and remove it.
Note carefully where the notch in the gear is pointing, then grab it with
fingers or CAREFULLY with long nose pliers and pull it out. IT WILL
TURN AS IT COMES OUT. NOTE: if it is covered with oil, it may be
very difficult to pull out - the oil 'seals' it into the pump and it can take
a long continuous pull to get it out (trust me). NOTE that the slot is
OFFSET JUST A TINY BIT, and yes it DOES matter!
PAY ATTENTION to where the slot is pointing AS THE GEAR COMES
FREE. As I say, it turns as it comes out (helical gears).
After the gear is out, NOTE the position of the slot in the oil pump
shaft. It'll haunt you later!
Now spin the pump. Tom Walter used to make priming rods, but (sorry
Tom) just take the shaft off a long straight bladed screwdriver and chuck
it in a drill. Dump some oil on the end, and position the oil feed tube
to squirt oil onto the rod. Then start spinning - COUNTERclockwise!
Within several seconds you should have oil pressure, oil flow from the
tube, and in 10-15 seconds oil flow to the top end.
If you want, turn the engine BY HAND a couple full revolutions. If you
can, have a helper turn it while you keep pressure up. COUNT THE
revolutions and end on an EVEN COUNT. Put #1 at TDC again.
Reposition the pump shaft. Reinsert the gear, with the slot NOT where it
was when you pulled it out. See how far the gear drops down? When you
get it right, it'll drop FURTHER DOWN. Pull the gear out. Ooh, all that
oil makes a vacuum seal and makes it harder to pull, doesn't it? :-)
Now align the gear's slot to where it was when the gear came out (and
get the offset on the proper side!). Push it into the pump. Feel for the
tang to drop into the pump. Didn't work? Pull it out, turn the pump
JUST A HAIR and try again. Repeat. repeat. repeat. It's taken me a
half-hour to get it to drop.
When it's in, the slot should be where it was when you started. Install
the pedestal, the tach drive, the oil line. Install the distributor. If the tang
won't engage, but WILL engage if you turn the rotor 180 degrees, then
sorry to say you put the gear in a half-turn off. Take it apart and do it
again. (or cheat and rotate the wires on the cap. Promise you'll get it
right 'the next time').
TIP ON SETTING THE TIMING. On the bottom of the distributor is a
bolt. Loosen it. Install the unit, put the pointer at 0 degrees and tighten
the screw. Time the engine by rotating the distributor (pointer does
NOT move), then tighten the bolt when done. Now the pointer will
indicate degrees advance/retard from the factory setting! Neat, huh?
Sorry for the length...
-- John
John F Sandhoff sandhoff@csus.edu Sacramento, CA
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