Need to turn engine over but loom is removed

[MSter]

I like to regularly turn the engine over on my triumph herald to try and stop it seizing whilst I carry out the restoration however I have removed the bulkhead wiring loom etc and just the engine gearbox running gear etc remain on the chassis. I have one of them starter button things can I simply connect the negative of the battery to the chassis and the positive of my hand switch thingy to the battery positive and then to the positive of the starter motor??

[junkuser]

Yes.  If the cabling of the remote and its switch are heavy enough, i.e. made for the job and your car is negative earth.

Best remove spark plugs.

[JohnD]

MStr,

Are you sure you are doing the enghine good or harm, by "turning it over regulalrly to stop it seizing"?

Triumph engines are notorious for allowing all their oil to drain back into the sump when standing.   When you start it, it has to run on the residual oil in the bearings, until the oil pump can get the vital juice back around the system.   This leadsinevitably to wear.   A cartidge oil filter adaption that uses cartriges with a non-return valve will help, but every start takes some life out of the engine.  

If you feel that you must turn it over, do so by hand once or twice - that is all that is needed. But in fact you would have to wait decades for the engine to seize from inactivity, as long as the waterways are filled with antifreeze/anticorrosion, and the sump originally had good oil in it.  Old stuff contains water, and 'black gunge' is acidic.

John

[junkuser]

I assumed he not wanting the engine to actually run John.

Would require the alternator/dynamo to be wired in if he wants to run it to avoid damage and this would require at least some of the loom to be refitted.

[heraldcoupe]

Like John, I would be turning by hand rather than wanting to spin it on the starter motor.

Cheers,
Bill.

[JohnD]

junkuser,
That's the point!
If the engine does start, at least the oil pump starts pumping and the oil starts to circulate.   No start, no recirculated oil, further wear and worse wear next time.

And there is no need for the dynamo/alternator to be working if you must run the engine.    If you are unfortunate enough to lose your fan belt, as long as it doesn't overheat, the engine will go on working until the battery goes flat.  That can a long time, as the drain from the ignition isn't great, but if you need to use your lights etc, it goes down a lot quicker!   I've been there, and strips torn off my T-shirt do not a fan-belt make.

John

[Nick Jones]

I'd put a couple of tablespoonfuls of 20/50 down the plug holes, turn over by hand a few times, replace the plugs and then turn every month or when you remember.  It'll be fine.  Just don't leave it out in the weather with the manifolds off.

Nick

[MSter]

the engine is all complete and together before it was not used it was serviced with an oil change so the oil is like new its kept in a dry garage with a tarpaulin over it excuse me for being thick here but how can I turn it over by hand or whats the best way its the first time all the loom etc have been off so I haven't as yet turned it over without running it as previously I would always start it up and allow it to run for a short period

[npanne]

2276 wrote:

...excuse me for being thick here but how can I turn it over by hand or whats the best way its the first time all the loom etc have been off so I haven't as yet turned it over without running it as previously I would always start it up and allow it to run for a short period

Plugs out (prevent compression), then just turn the front pulley or flywheel with your hands - all you're trying to do is prevent it seizing, so it doesn't need to be turned much - one or two full rotations should be enough.

[piman]

Hello Mster,

I would also question the need to turn it over at all given the storage conditions.

"as previously I would always start it up and allow it to run for a short period"

Also a bad idea in my view, it doesn't get hot so the water generated in running it goes into the oil which rapidly deteriorates. Even running until the water temperature is at normal is not enough, it won't evaporate the water generated in running.

Alec

[junkuser]

I did not think that the aim was to start the engine as there was no wiring loom.
If the plugs are removed, as suggested, spinning the engine on the starter, should bring the oil pressure up.

"If you are unfortunate enough to lose your fan belt, as long as it doesn't overheat, the engine will go on working until the battery goes flat"
Running an engine with the fan belt in place (no mention of that having been  removed) and an alternator open circuited (wiring loom removed) can lead to over-voltage and damage to the alternator. Not sure about a dynamo, but included it in case.