Topic: New motor check list 78 cb750f 836

[cheapride]

Hey guys I just finished my build and am getting ready to start it for the first time.  I want to make sure I don't mess something up.  I was wondering if anyone could help me out. 
I have put 2quarts of oil in my oil tank and have set the point gaps.
I have turned to engine over several time with the kill switch off and didn't see the oil level decrease that much.  The oil pan is empty when I removed the oil plug.  Do I just fill the tank with gas and fire the beast up?  Or is there something else I need to do first.

Thanks,
Brent

[SOHC Digger]

If you can, I would recommend removing the valve cover and turning the engine over until you see good oil flow to the top end.  Trust me.  Check out my build thread if you want to see the consequences of lack of lube oil to the cam.

[magnum56]

Cranking it over with the electric start, or kick start, should get oil flowing through the system and galleys.
Not sure how long "turned it over several times" equates to, but I would not attempt to start and run, it until I was sure oil has traveled through the galleys, filter, and oil pan.  If you have a working idiot light (oil light), did that go out? 

[SOHC Digger]

Cranking it over with the electric start, or kick start, should get oil flowing through the system and galleys.
Not sure how long "turned it over several times" equates to, but I would not attempt to start and run, it until I was sure oil has traveled through the galleys, filter, and oil pan.  If you have a working idiot light (oil light), did that go out?

If I'm not mistaken, I thought the idiot light goes on to indicate high oil pressure, not low oil pressure.

If you spent the money on an 836 kit, I would invest a little more and get an oil pressure gauge for the engine before you attempt to start it.  I would hate to roast an engine that I've invested that kind of cash into.

And by the way, my gauge showed good oil pressure while my engine was eating a cam.  Pull the valve cover.

[cheapride]

If you can, I would recommend removing the valve cover and turning the engine over until you see good oil flow to the top end.  Trust me.  Check out my build thread if you want to see the consequences of lack of lube oil to the cam.

I can remove the valve cover if I need to.  The only thing I didn't do was prime the oil pump, maybe this is my problem.

We turned it over for 30 plus seconds no oil pressure on the gauge and the oil pressure light was on.  Will the oil pump push oil onto the cam when it is just turning over or does it have to be running to build up pressure?  We pulled the screw on oil filter and it was empty too. 

[SOHC Digger]

We turned it over for 30 plus seconds no oil pressure on the gauge and the oil pressure light was on.  Will the oil pump push oil onto the cam when it is just turning over or does it have to be running to build up pressure?  We pulled the screw on oil filter and it was empty too.

When I put everything back together after replacing the cam, I pulled the plugs and turned the engine with the kickstart lever.  After about 10 or 15 kicks, I had good flow.  Full pressure won't show until it's running, but you should show the needle moving up, maybe 5 lbs or so turning by hand.

If you don't have oil to your filter, you have a problem.  That is the first stop after the oil pump.  Maybe you have your oil lines backwards?

[scondon]

   You can remove a tappet cover on the valve cover and add oil onto the head, about 1/2 to 1qt. Let sit for a bit while the oil drains down. You say only 2qts added so far so this shouldn't get you overfull and will help in priming the system.

   I've tried just using the starter/kicker to get the oil light to go out on a freshly rebuilt motor, and I've killed a full battery and kicked until my leg ached with no luck. With the motor running it has taken over 30 seconds for it to go out. Assuming you've used assembly lube you should be ok for this period. Priming the system has reduced the amount of time I wait with my heart in my throat for that damn light to go out.

  Since you can't remove the entire valve cover with the engine installed you can remove the tappet covers from #1 and #4, and once your oil light goes out you can observe whether oil is splashing/flowing to both sides of the cam.

[cheapride]

We turned it over for 30 plus seconds no oil pressure on the gauge and the oil pressure light was on.  Will the oil pump push oil onto the cam when it is just turning over or does it have to be running to build up pressure?  We pulled the screw on oil filter and it was empty too.

When I put everything back together after replacing the cam, I pulled the plugs and turned the engine with the kickstart lever.  After about 10 or 15 kicks, I had good flow.  Full pressure won't show until it's running, but you should show the needle moving up, maybe 5 lbs or so turning by hand.

If you don't have oil to your filter, you have a problem.  That is the first stop after the oil pump.  Maybe you have your oil lines backwards?

I just checked my oil lines and they seem to be on right.  The line with the 45 end on it is the line in the center of the oil tank and that is on the rear most oil hole of the engine and the straight line is on the front hole of the tank and engine.  We didn't pull the plugs when we were turning the engine over.  Does that make it easier?

[SOHC Digger]

Pulling the plugs takes compression out of the equation so the engine will turn a LOT easier.

[cheapride]

I pulled the exhaust, and the oil pump off.  The pump had some oil in it an the pressure port of the block had some oil pouring out.  I primed the pump and reinstalled the pan.  I pulled the valve cover and the plugs.  It turned over a lot easier without the plugs and within 15 pumps on the kickstarter I had 20 pounds of pressure at my gauge.  It was enough pressure to find a leak and I had oil coming out of my gauge.   After fixing the leak and another 10 or so kicks I had oil coming out on all the cam lobes.  Both sides have oil:)  I will attempt to start it next weekend.

Thanks,

[SOHC Digger]

It takes less time to do it right than it does to do it over.  Well done.