Can't get oil to rocker arms on MC

[tank1949]

I pulled both MC v8s last years in lieu of replacing transom and other cosmetic repairs. Motors were running excellent just before the time of pulling. Both are antifreeze cooled. Both remained covered and on stands inside my enclosed boat's cockpit area (and drained of excessive water/antifreeze). I pulled spark plugs and squirted Marvel Mystery oil inside and on cylinder walls. I marked and pulled distributor. I inserted tool inside distributor cavity that forces oil to all over inside engine, when engaged. This tool is connected to a 1/2" drill and spun clockwise to engage and turn oil pump. Well, that is what is supposed to happen. I can't get oil to come out of ANY push rod ends on one head , even after turning 1/2" drill for 2-3 minutes. Lots of oil is all over the surface area of my drill tool. Granted, it is about 50 degrees outside, and I can feel resistance on 1/2" drill as I spin tool, but it still should pump oil to top part of motor. I am perplexed! I have not examined the other head. Any suggestions????

 

[jimmbo]

I believe the lifters are what pump the oil up the pushrods. They have to be moving, which means the camshaft has to be turning, requiring the crankshaft to be turning.

 

[GA_Boater]

You can run the drill until it burns out and you won't oil the push rods.

Motor has to spin to oil the push rods. The oil comes from the lifter push rod cups.

 

[Scott Danforth]

two things......

first, most priming tools dont have the oil groove and embossment like the dizzy does which is part of the oil path
second, the motor must be turning to get oil to the lifters.... then push-rods.

so, liberally oil the rockers with a can of oil

prime the pump until you see pressure

stab the dizzy and fire up the motor.

 

[Bt Doctur]

You need a dist body inserted to direct the flow TO the oil gallery that oils the lifters

 

[tank1949]

You need a dist body inserted to direct the flow TO the oil gallery that oils the lifters

Thanks to all! The tool I am using is cannibalized from an old Chevy v6 distributor, and I measured it to be the same dimensions as the distributer that I removed. If I am not mistaken, the motor's oil pump (and tool) pumps oil into crankshaft and into the cam/lifter/block cavity and once filled, oil is pressured into oil holes on the bodies of lifters. Once in the lifter bodies, the pressurized oil comes out the top of the lifter and enters into one end of the pushrod and is pressured upward to the other end that a rocker arms sits on. The oil then flows all over the rocker arm bearing or pivot area until it flows back into block via head holes. If this was a tool out of specs, I'd be less concern. Something is wrong. I cannot figure it out. Plenty of oil in pan too.

 

[muc]

Thanks to all! The tool I am using is cannibalized from an old Chevy v6 distributor, and I measured it to be the same dimensions as the distributer that I removed. If I am not mistaken, the motor's oil pump (and tool) pumps oil into crankshaft and into the cam/lifter/block cavity and once filled, oil is pressured into oil holes on the bodies of lifters. Once in the lifter bodies, the pressurized oil comes out the top of the lifter and enters into one end of the pushrod and is pressured upward to the other end that a rocker arms sits on. The oil then flows all over the rocker arm bearing or pivot area until it flows back into block via head holes. If this was a tool out of specs, I'd be less concern. Something is wrong. I cannot figure it out. Plenty of oil in pan too.

I'm guessing that the people who are telling you that the motor needs to be rotating ----- have never primed a motor.

Spin the tool longer, depending on oil viscosity and temp it can take awhile.

You should feel a lot of resistance on the drill.

Maybe pull the oil pressure sender and hook up a mechanical gauge?

P.S. are you sure it's not a backwards motor?

 

[tank1949]

I'm guessing that the people who are telling you that the motor needs to be rotating ----- have never primed a motor.

Spin the tool longer, depending on oil viscosity and temp it can take awhile.

You should feel a lot of resistance on the drill.

Maybe pull the oil pressure sender and hook up a mechanical gauge?

P.S. are you sure it's not a backwards motor?

Thanks... I am spinning 1/2" drill clockwise looking down at drill. Lots of resistance too!!! Motors also have external oil filters attached via 3/4" hoses and connected to special adapter where spin-on old filters usually connect at block. One OD-drive is opposite rotation. Both motors are std. rotation. I will try the sender trick and also pull opposite valve cover and see if oil is getting to those rockers. I am getting stiff resistance going clockwise with drill and very little going counter clockwise.

 

[Scott06]

Another way to do it is put distributor back in. With plugs out and ignition disabled run it on the starter. It does take several real minutes for oil to get up to the rockers but will get up there.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Lots of oil is all over the surface area of my drill tool.

With the dist inserted you cant see there? Dist rotation is clockwise no matter what the crankshaft rotation is .
Use an actual dist body with the cam gear teeth removed otherwise no oil will get into the lifter gallery and from there no oil to the rockers

 

[tank1949]

Another way to do it is put distributor back in. With plugs out and ignition disabled run it on the starter. It does take several real minutes for oil to get up to the rockers but will get up there.

That's exactly what I plan on doing! TGHX!