QuestionQUESTION: Hi Howard, my midget starts and runs fine but I have no oil coming up to the head. the PSI reaches almost 80 psi. I removed the screw after the first rocker and there was no oil coming out of there either, which I understand there should be.
What do you think is the problem?
ANSWER: Hi Oscar,
First remove the rocker stands and pull all of the spark plugs and spin the engine with the starter while you watch the hole under the rocker stand. With 80 PSI running you will easily pump 35 PSI with just the starter and you should see plenty of oil at the rocker feed hole. If there is no oil there, you need to pull the head to see if the gasket is wrong and blocking the oil hole. The 77 Midget is a 1500 Triumph Spitfire engine and as I remember there is a external bypass kit available for the Spitfire engine to supply oil to the rockers. You may need to search the net to find it. Also try Moss Motors etc.
Howard
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Howard, removed the head. Gasket was not installed wrong and the oil port thru the head is open. Now I'm looking down into the oil port at the top of the block. I know the system that feeds this is complex going thru the crank shaft and other parts down below and I really don't want to disassemple the crank.
If I crank the engine with the head off will it hurt anything? If I do this and still no oil at the port what do you suppose is the problem?
I like the idea of an external bepass kit cuz it would save me having to disassemble anything in the block but can't find anywhere. Can you point me in the right direction? I'm looking at oil bypass filter kits also but how would I get the oil to distribute to all four rockers when hose is attached to valve cover. Moss doesn't carry.
AnswerHi Oscar,
It does not hurt to spin the engine with the head off to look for oil at the oil galley hole. If you see no oil there, look at the oil pressure gauge while the engine is spinning. You should get 35+ PSI on the gauge with the starter motor spinning the crank. If not you have a major problem and need to start checking why. Oil level, look at the distributor rotor to see that it is turning (the drive gear that turns the distributor is what drives the oil pump. Then check the oil filter and the oil pressure regulator valve in the side of the block.
Howard
Update- Hi Oscar, A Brit named Christian found the kit from a British company. Don't know if any US company handles it but you can order it from England at, http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID010663.
It must be a common problem if a company is making a fix.
Howard
