Ready to try a first start of the engine if oil pressure could be counted on to come up.

Perplexed as to why I get oil pressure sometimes and not every time I spin the engine.

Wendell (with oil all over the place) 

 

 Hi Wendell,

I've done the starter thing on a few occasions now, and have always been able to eventually get pressure, but I can't say I ever checked it multiple times, so I don't know if it's normal to come and go like you're describing.  It doesn't seem normal, but cranking speed is pretty slow, and it does take a while to move oil at that speed.  Basically, after I got pressure for a few seconds, I considered it ready to crank. 

Is this a fresh engine that was just rebuilt?  In other words, it's still full of assembly lube??  If so, I think I'd go ahead with the first start, and just watch the oil pressure.  I would expect to see pressure quickly, within 5 seconds or so (which will seem like an eternity).  That's just what I would do, which certainly doesn't make it right :-)

Good luck,

Rusty (Raven on order)