B allis

I purchased a 1939 B allis. the tractor is in very good condition, and has been stored in a garage. It has not been run in many years. I have spark and fuel but would not start with the crank. My wife pulled it fifteen feet and it started. Problem is no oil pressure. I want to know from you what you think before I pull the oil pan.

I need a manual for it also.

Thanks Gordy

No oil pressure can be caused by having the wrong oil filter on it or the tube that fits up into the oil filter being gone. That is where I would start. Could be why no oil pressure unless you have already changed the oil and if so do you have the correct filter and have the tube in the filter??

Typical for those engines to lose prime in the oil system when setting for a while. Take off a line at the filter and force some oil into the line going into the engine.

Thanks guys I took the line off like you said and no pressure there either. The tube is there and can blow air through the tube. Will running it for a short time hurt anything? Will it pick you it prime on its own?

Thanks again Gordy

The oil pump is not in the pan; it is in the clutch housing

Here is a graphic to support moonlight37's post. Different engine but identical as to where the pump sits. The pump body shown had different bolts and cover but otherwise is the same. Uses the same rebuild kit they are so close. Vanes have to be pointed toward the direction of rotation, but I would think you would see some pressure even if they had been reversed (one engine I pulled apart had them reversed and supposedly had been running, though was fried when I got it). You can prime it down that brass fitting and if the tube in the oil filter base is loose, you can then fill the tube that connects the oil filter base to the brass fitting after it's on, air will keep it from filling, but you can get some in.

The third photo supports the posts about the tube in the oil filter base. The tube that skewers the oil filter is very important. The third photo is one that someone had cut off and I had to replace it with a full length one. The photo shows the wrong one on the left and the correct one on the right. These tubes can easily be thrown in the garbage with the filter when someone changes oil. If the tube is gone, we can provide the dimensions to make a new one. Hopefully all that is wrong with yours is the oil filter base issues or priming. If the tube is gone, the gauge is bypassed as is the filter.

I would not run it with no pressure.

If this is too dark to see, let me know, I have a B engine sitting on blocks in the shop right now, would only take a moment to snap another.

These pumps are not self priming and can loose its prime form setting. to prime the pump I screw off the filter and place a gas line hose over the stem that goes up in the filter. I fill the hose with oil and let it seep down for a few minutes and refill the hose. I start the engine with the hose still attached to watch the oil come out the hose proving that the pump is now in prime. Remove the hose and screw the filter back on.
That is the fastest and easiest way I have found. The deeper the pump cover has grooves wore into it the larger the chance it will loose its prime after setting a while.

Yes running it with no oil pressure can/will hurt the engine so at this time you need to prime the oil pump before you even think about running it again. Once primed I would pull it around but in such a way that it will not start and watch to see if you get pressure

Listen for the snap in the magneto when cranking. If it does not snap it would mean that the impulse spring is not loading up to spin the armature. The spinning the armature is what makes the power for spark. The pawls (can) rust or stick fast when setting and keep the spring from loading up. Pulling spins the armature fast constantly.

A dirty carburetor also can cause hard cranking along with several other things.

Thanks again. Will be on hold for a couple of days. Starts now with the crank but no oil pressure. Will try and get some oil in there for a prime. Thanks again Gordy

You guys are the greatest. I primed the pump like you said, turn it over until I got oil out the tube. Started it up, good oil pressure, and drove it around the yard. Many thanks to everyone that replied Gordy