Oil pressure

Post by **DAVIDMCCULLOUGH** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:12 am

What normal oil pressure on a sidevalve? On mine when its cold and under normal driving its about 60, but ticking over when warm it goes down to aBOUT 30. Is this normal?

Post by **RobThomas** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:16 am

I get 80 cold, 60 warm at speed and 30 hot idle. Car 2 gives 60 cold, 60 at speed and 10 idle.

Post by **alanworland** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:48 pm

I get about 60 cold, 50 hot cruising and 15/20 hot tickover. I recently fitted new crank shells which doesn't seem to have made any difference to oil pressure.

Post by **mike.perry** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:48 pm

Oil pressure on a side valve is generally better than on an A series, 70lbs cold, 60lbs on a good thrash down the motorway and 30lbs stopping at the end of the off slip lane. 40lbs upwards on a run will not harm the engine. Don't lose any sleep over it.
Now come and help me rewire the electrics, fit the lights, change a steering rack gaiter, get it MOTed and fit out the interior in time for the Nat. Rally on Saturday!

Post by **DAVIDMCCULLOUGH** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:13 pm

Good Luck Mike! No problem....

Ive been using the lowlight everyday to try and put some miles on it. There seems to be a flat spot in the carb and it wont acclerate past it. Last night Dad and I stripped the carb down, the mixture nut was seized solid. I got that moving eventually and gave everything a good clean but once back together it was running even worse. It takes off ok but wont acclerlate much then when you brake it seems to want to rev onitself. Any ideas what going on?

Post by **mike.perry** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:09 pm

Have you checked the piston is rising and falling correctly?
Correct fuel level in the float chamber?
I assume if you have stripped and cleaned the carb then you have checked all the moving parts and the needle is not bent.
Are your spark plug gaps OK?

Post by **DAVIDMCCULLOUGH** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:07 am

We had another go today, I had a carb rebuild kit and we fitted all new seals and a new jet. After a lot of adjusting and a few road runs it seems to need to be very rich to get any kind of decent accleration and not to die away on hills! The only thing that didnt come with the kit was a new needle, though the old one seems ok. Spark plugs and all ignition parts are also new. Maybe I just need to get used to the slower speed...

Post by **mike.perry** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:59 pm

You don't have to get used to a much slower speed. Provided the engine is in good nick it will cruise all day at 60 on the motorway.
Go over the adjusments again, check the points are still 12 or 15 thou depending which distributor you have.
Check your plugs again. I accidentally fitted NGKs with too long a nose and the pistons closed the gaps up to about 2 thou. It still ran but misfired below 40MPH.
It is usually the blindingly obvious that is wrong.
Good luck.

Post by **DAVIDMCCULLOUGH** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:43 am

How is your car progressing Mike?

Today I seemed to be having problems with the fuel evaporating when the engine was hot and then bad starting. I had a few short trips and each time the car only sat for around 10mins then wouldnt go. Very annoying!

I noticed there wasnt a bakelite block like the a series has between the carb and manifold and decided that might help. Dad made one up from a peice of asbestos and I also made a heat shield to go between the exhaust and float chamber, as mine has the first type of carb were the float is really close to the exhaust. This seems to have made a huge difference. We then adjusted the jet again and another road run, seems not too bad. I pulled in after a hill and richened it a wee bit more. Tomorrow Im going to go for about 50miles and see whats happening.

Post by **alanworland** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:07 pm

Whip a plug out after a good run and see if the colour looks about right, adjusting if required. I set my mixture up with eight flats of the mixture screw back from flush with the surrounding collar as suggested for initial setting up. It seemed to run ok but I have since richened it by another couple of flats or so and it runs much better.
I once had a burnt exhaust valve and would now much rather have a slightly rich mixture than a repeat experience!

Post by **DAVIDMCCULLOUGH** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:19 pm

I did about 40 miles today and it definately seems to be running much better. I had no trouble from fuel vaporisation or hot starting and will cruise happily at about 50mph.

I would like to have a drive in another sidevalve to compare, maybe I'll be cheeky enough to ask someoone at the rally!

Post by **DAVIDMCCULLOUGH** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:23 pm

Alan, are you going to the rally? Ive got hold of an oxford clock and wouldnt mind seeing how you installed yours

Post by **alanworland** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:41 pm

Yes I am planning to go on Saturday.