No oil in tappit area

[JohnRoss]

Hi from Cyprus
Just fitted an engine and gearbox into my '56 van from a traveller which had not started in 20 years. Engine runs fine as if it had only done 40 - 50k miles, no smoke at all and great compression. gearbox is nice and tight. seems engine was hardly used...but once warmed up a squeak comes from tappit area and on closer inspection there is no oil coming up to this area. Oil pump is fine as oil is getting to filter and oil pressure light goes out as normal.
What is preventing the oil from rising to the top?
Any help greatfully appreciated
John Ross
limassol
Cyprus

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Do NOT run the engine anymore. What makes you think oil isn't getting there - is it bone dry?

Have you had the head off to decoke plus clean & inspect - this is a MUST for any engine which has been dormant for over 10 yrs.

[mike.perry]

There is an oil passage in the head which lines up with a passage in the first pedastal which lines up with an oil hole in the rocker shaft. Check.
The oil should then run down the push rod holes and lubricate the tappets.

[JohnRoss]

Head was off so I replaced with other, recently used and working.
Before replacing head I manually turned over pistons to make sure they were free, and noticed oil pumping out correctly from small oil hole at front corner of engine block.
Head gasket was replaced with new one and oil hole in gasket was correctly aligned.
Have removed tappets rail and noted oil holes on first stand are correctly aligned.

Does anyone have a diagram showing how oil is pumped around engine (1098cc)
Am I correct in believing oil rises to head through block from front camshaft bearing

[Boris64]

John

This is pretty thorough but watch out for the buffalo dung

http://www.nonlintec.com/sprite/lubrication/

It's a 1275 block with closed tappet chest but the recipe is the same.

Do click the link to the Sprite page at the bottom - it's gorgeous with other 'upgrades'.

Good luck.

Pete

[bmcecosse]

Yes - the oil rises up exactly as you describe. I suggest you strip down the rocker shaft and check for blockages. Also make sure the correct ' support block' is fitted to match up with the oil passage - only one block has the oil hole.

[JohnRoss]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.
Will get back to the engine today, and lift off the head to see if its oil line is blocked.
Top front pedestal was correctly aligned with oil hole which had no oil exuding!
So will work downwards.

Great forum! Especially appreciated out here in Cyprus where there's no-one else to turn to for such help!

[dalgrae]

I had the same problem when I overhauled my rocker gear , I eventually cured the problem , but the first thing I tried was to pour some oil down the feed hole in the head to see if it dissapeared it did ,then I assembled the rocker pedestals only to the head with no rocker gear torqued the head down and then cranked over the engine with the plugs out for a short time by pulling on the starter relay inside the bonnet this showed I had an oil feed to the rocker ,then it was a case of renewing the old worn shaft which in my case had the oil feed hole in a different position to the old shaft so I redrilled a new feed hole ,in the end with all parts refitted when the engine was run after a few seconds oil was present at all the rocker positions

[JohnRoss]

Have just removed the head, tried to blow compressed air through oil channel in head but there is a blockage. The channel is in the form of a Z shape. I can poke a wire in at each end of the Z, but the blockage is in the middle which was originally drilled in the manufacturing process and then end-plugged. I have poured petrol down one end which I hope will disolve whatever is there-in. Any other ideas to clear it? Thinners? Will let soak overnight to see what happens.

[bmcecosse]

You can drill out the end plug.....and then replug it after clearing the blockage. Have to say this is v uncommon, you have been unlucky...

[JohnRoss]

The final conclusion!

With Cylinder head removed I poured petrol into oil hole. Left overnight, and tried to blow compressed air through the oil channel.
Still blocked.
Turned head over and poured petrol from other end of the Z shaped channel.
Left overnight to soak.
Next day blew compressed air alternatively from either side.
Blockage started to move and something finally was spat out with great velocity.
Dont ask me what it was as I never saw where it landed! Keep meaning to clean my garage... one day it will have sterile tiled floor and walls like a proper surgery
I recon it was some dried up oil/gunge.
I am learning, albeit the hard way!

Thanks for every-ones help
John
Limassol, Cyprus

[bmcecosse]

Well done !