Author Topic: Starting my Mk2 to check for oil leaks  (Read 5340 times)

Offline Pwardy

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Starting my Mk2 to check for oil leaks
« on: 16 October 2018, 10:47 »
I'm replacing all the seals on my Mk2 8v.  I want to run it and check for oil leaks before I refit the gearbox.  The engine will be supported by a support beam.

Is it possible to start the engine without refitting the gearbox?  If so how please?

Offline gazareth

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Re: Starting my Mk2 to check for oil leaks
« Reply #1 on: 02 November 2018, 18:06 »
you could wrap an old seat belt round the flywheel and give it a good tug. never tried it, and if I did "I WOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION" I would wrap it round one and a half times, just so there is no chance of it snagging when the engine fires. the decision is all yours though :wink:

Offline gazareth

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Re: Starting my Mk2 to check for oil leaks
« Reply #2 on: 02 November 2018, 18:09 »
if I was to use the method above, I think I would retard the cam timing by one tooth to lose a bit of the cranking compression. (if its a standard engine of course) I wouldn't mess with the timing on a cammed engine.

Offline Pwardy

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Re: Starting my Mk2 to check for oil leaks
« Reply #3 on: 09 November 2018, 15:35 »
Thanks for the reply gazereth  I did think some thing around the flywheel or even driving the crank from the front pulley bolt.

The big risk, which you point out, is what happens when the engine fires.  I'll get the box off and look at the options.