ISM repower progress report

[Brian Diehl]

Well, I filled her up with distilled water tonight.  I have everything checked out and ready.  Oil is in the oil pan, oil is in the power steering system, the clutch works, the air system is all buttoned up, everything is tight (bolts and clamps) and ...?  I'm about to push the start button...  wait a second ... hold up .... think thrice!  What have I missed?  I'm not sure?  If it were you, what final things would you check before pushing that start button?

[TomC]

You should empty about half of that distilled water and refill with antifreeze, unless you want to rust through the wet cylinder liners!  Fuel lines hooked up and bled?  Good Luck, TomC

[maria-n-skip]

 Brian,

    Things probably have changed but in the "almost old days" we used straight water for engines on the dyno. Using straight water
 for a short time shouldn't hurt anything. On reman engines the water was drained but there are pockets that held water
 the engine would then go into inventory and maybe sit for 6 months. Never had any problems.

 Just another opinion
 Skip

[superpickle]

Distilled or Not, I would have Antifreez in it, its called Coolint because it Cools better than Water and Lubes the water pump as well..

Make sure you Hide behind something Heavy to protect you in case it Explodes 


Paul.....

[kyle4501]

I'd use straight water for the initial startup. If you gotta open the cooling system a little spilled water is no biggie. Always easy to drain out some plain water & add coolant when everything checks out okey-dokey.

'coolant' does a lot of things & long term it's usually better, but for this short term startup . . .

BTW, a 50/50 mix cools less efficiently than straight water.
You can run cooler with straight water than with a mix. But then you don't have;
- lubricant for the pump.
- corrosion protection.
- lower freeze/ higher boiling points.
- etc.

I'd get a couple of CO2 fire extinguishers. If engine won't stop, discharge into the intake & it will stop it w/no damage. 

They some in handy for fires too. 

[Brian Diehl]

I'd use straight water for the initial startup.

I'd get a couple of CO2 fire extinguishers. If engine won't stop, discharge into the intake & it will stop it w/no damage. 

They some in handy for fires too. 

Thanks guys for the feedback.  I'll only be running straight water for a little while until I'm sure I don't have to pull the engine back out.  Much easier to deal with water then $150 worth of coolant.  Once it is stable I'll drain half and add coolant.

Great idea for the CO2 extinguisher!  Thanks!  I'll  have mine next to me for the start!

[Stan]

Brian: If not already done, shut off the fuel and turn the engine over with wrench on the crank, at least one complete turn.

[Brian Diehl]

Brian: If not already done, shut off the fuel and turn the engine over with wrench on the crank, at least one complete turn.

I've done this a couple of times in the past few days.  However, I did not have the ignition turned on, so the solenoid would have been off.  Do I need to do this with the ignition on?

[TomC]

Highly recommend you do NOT hand crank it over with the fuel on.  There is a remote chance it could try to start or even fire backwards.  Good Luck, TomC

[Tom Y]

Tom C, Start by rolling over on an electronic motor? I didn't think this could happen with the power off.  Tom Y

[Stan]

Brian: I just said fuel off to be sure it didn't fire. My concern with an engine install is to be sure that there is nothing mechanical, like a bolt that wasn't screwed all the way in, that is going to hang up when it is turned over. You sound like you have been very thorough in your pre start check. I hope it works out well for you.