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#1 Starting engine after lay up
Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 10:41 pm
by Malc
I’ve been slowly restoring my S1 2+2 and am now at the stage where I want to start the engine. It has not started for perhaps five years, although it has been in a very dry damp free garage. I was going to do the following: 1) take out the plugs and turn the engine over just to make sure that it turned over properly and there were no funny noises (stuck valves etc). 2). Turn the engine over with the plugs in but no ignition just to build up the oil pressure. 3) Connect the ignition and hope that it starts etc. However any advice on alternative procedures would be gratefully accepted.
#2 Re: Starting engine after lay up
Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 1:32 am
by JJC
You nailed it Malc . Good luck !!
JC
#3 Re: Starting engine after lay up
Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 6:10 am
by Simonpfhc
But leave the plugs out to build up oil pressure - it takes ages to build pressure and your battery will be screaming at you
#4 Re: Starting engine after lay up
Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 7:33 am
by mgcjag
Hi Malc....have you turned the engine over by hand with the plugs out just to make sure its not seized......make sure you remembered to fill with oil.....then as Simon says turn over on the starter without plugs...it will spin much easier.......good luck...Steve
#5 Re: Starting engine after lay up
Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 8:22 am
by johnetype
With (1) I'd also add a couple of squirts of engine oil into each bore before turning over by hand. Also don't connect the fuel pump until (3) to ensure you haven't got the engine flooded with petrol.
#6 Re: Starting engine after lay up
Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 10:07 am
by 1954Etype
Make sure you have the carbs adjusted properly - you don't want it going to maximum revs as soon as it fires!
#7 Re: Starting engine after lay up
Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 5:17 am
by Nickleback
Should the clutch pedal also be depressed as well to make it easier on the engine turning over to build the
oil pressure first ?
#8 Re: Starting engine after lay up
Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:27 am
by johnetype
No because if the crank thrust bearings have lost lubrication you'll be pressing on them and rotating the crank at the same time whilst you're waiting for oil pressure to build up.
The fastest way to help oil pressure build up is remove the spark plugs.
#9 Re: Starting engine after lay up
Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 10:06 am
by christopher storey
Or better still, get a garden sprayer and plug it into one of the blanking slots in the right hand oil gallery near the filter , and pump a couple of pints in at about 4 lbs/sq.in - this will circulate oil through the pump, the bearings and even up to the cams, and the engine will then be well primed for a start
PS if this results in overfilling, once you have the engine running, siphon an equivalent amount out of the oil filler area
#10 Re: Starting engine after lay up
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:32 pm
by mldwyer
Now, that is a great idea. Thank you.