Hi, is it normal for a rebuilt engine to have a lot of drag at first? It seems to come from the rings, as the crank would turn nicely prior to installing the pistons.
I rebuilt an Allis-Chalmers B about 20 years ago, and the engine was so tight the starter would not crank it over. I could pull it through one compression with the hand crank and it would fire but it seemed to not have enough power to start running. I finally got frustrated and pulled it and started it. It ran great and very quickly loosened up so that the starter would start it nicely. It has run fine ever since with no problems.
Now I have a Lincoln welding machine, 1956, with the Continental engine, and it feels exactly the same way.
Is there anything I can do, like rig up a way to turn it some, so that it will loosen up, or is this necessary? Since I can't tow-start it, I wonder how I will ever get it started.
I rebuilt an Allis-Chalmers B about 20 years ago, and the engine was so tight the starter would not crank it over. I could pull it through one compression with the hand crank and it would fire but it seemed to not have enough power to start running. I finally got frustrated and pulled it and started it. It ran great and very quickly loosened up so that the starter would start it nicely. It has run fine ever since with no problems.
Now I have a Lincoln welding machine, 1956, with the Continental engine, and it feels exactly the same way.
Is there anything I can do, like rig up a way to turn it some, so that it will loosen up, or is this necessary? Since I can't tow-start it, I wonder how I will ever get it started.