Oil pump priming

[Robert Lees]

A photo showing my soon-to-fly project on the tail-up balance point to prefill & prime the oil pump.




Second photo shows first engine run after 4 1/2 years...it started first blade, and oil pressure was straight up to 32lbs.

[mhorowit]

Re: Oil pump priming

ooooooh, and she's good looking too! Maybe I ought to thing a bit about a paint scheme rather than Cub yellow

[Dano"T"]

Re: Oil pump priming

What engine did you end up going with?

[N96337]

Re: Oil pump priming

Looks very nice, Rob!! It also looks like you have some pretty nice hangar mates there.. especially on your right...
JH

[Robert Lees]

Re: Oil pump priming

Dan: The original A-65 is installed at the moment. Empty weight came out at 814lb, with two wing tanks, skylight and leather upholstery.

I still need to get formal approval to fit the O-200, and it needs reassembly.

I'm pleased with the paint job, which is exactly how it was before we took in out of the air.

John: the hangar contains two RV6's, three Taylorcraft, one Starduster and one Pitts S2, a Cap10, one Auster, and four non-descripts.

[hangarb7]

Re: Oil pump priming

This Taylorcraft Family is unreal.

Last night, I pulled the old gal out of the hangar after sitting for several months. Knowing that she might be devoid of oil in the pump (there was an oil change at last shut down and it wasn't supposed to be sitting this long!) I raised the tail up on my three step ladder for about five minutes then she started on the fourth blade.

But no oil pressure for the first time ever! So I shut her down raised the tail this time for about a half hour. Still no pressure, even tapped the gauge to see if the needle stuck.

So I figure I'll go to this forum today to ask for suggestions and WOW, Rob's post of holding the tail skyward.

Here are my questions....

Is it really necessary to hold her that high? And how long do I keep her that way?

Thanks!!! Also, Mr. Lees, that airplane is gorgeous.

Jack D
N44057

[Dano"T"]

Re: Oil pump priming

814 is not bad with all the goodies Rob. She'll do real nice with the O-200 I'm sure....but will fly beautfully with the A65 as they have for 60+ years....She's a beaut!

[M Jones]

Re: Oil pump priming

Very nice Rob. Congratulations! I have to say you're going to be spoiled and very disappointed if you expect to fly a Taylorcraft nearly as nice as that when you make the trip across the pond this summer... ( meant mine, not anyone else's!)

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Oil pump priming

Positively sharp looking Rob!
Maybe a ferry tank will get it to Oshkosh? It looks like a trophy winner.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Oil pump priming

On priming the oil pump,
I have never seen someone just raise the tail, and prime the pump,that is a new one for me. What we do with mine anytime that it sits for more than a month is we have a pressure oiler that we built from some old parts complete with an oil heater. We "tee" it into the oil pressure line, drain the oil, turn on the oil heating element in the old 5 gallon jerry can that serves as a resevoir, and once the oil coes to temperature, we turn on the electric pump, and watch the pressure guage on the oil primer. once we get to 40 PSI, the job is done. sabrina

[hangarb7]

Re: Oil pump priming

I'm really confused...

So in looking at an old thread from earlier this year, it says that you can also remove the oil temp bulb and squirt a few shots of oil in there from an oil can to prime the pump.

OK. But I am failing to see (remember I am a neophyte) how raising the tail does the same thing when the oil should certainly slosh forward when doing this. How does that get oil in the same place in the back of the engine?

Signed,

No Oil Pressure Jack
N44057
'46 BC12D

[TimHicks]

Re: Oil pump priming

Beautiful.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Oil pump priming

OK, I should explain.

I held the tail up (well I actually held it down...it's the balance point) whilst my buddy squirted oil through the oil temperature housing (the oil screen in place for this). Jack: the oil bulb housing slopes aft in the tail down position, and the oil needs to get forward of the housing, where the pump is.

This fills the upper gallery of the oil pump with oil, so sealing the gears allowing them to pull fresh oil from the sump. Since the engine had been pickled for 4 1/2 years (and been in all sorts of upside-down positions during the storage) I thought it best to ensure the pump had a dose of oil to start with.

Once the oil is squirted in, the tail can be lowered.

Not my original idea, I nicked it from either Sacramento Sky Ranch or some other place.

Rob

[hangarb7]

Re: Oil pump priming

Rob,

Thank you, now I understand.

I notice you chocked the wheels but did you cradle the nose/prop at all or just held it that high? Doesn't look like you are holding much in that picture.

Again, your beautiful ship makes me think that someday I will tear my gal down to have this kind of result. But first, I need to rebuild that '46 basketcase Chief in my hangar for something to fly!

Jack D.

[hangarb7]

Re: Oil pump priming

Rob,

Whoops. I reread your post and I see that you were actually holding the tail down to keep her from flippin' over.

By the way, the Sacremento link didn't work.

Thanks!

Jack