Question about running the engine on a stand

[Brian Osterhout]

Oh wise and wonderful forum: Does it matter if the clutch disc and pressure plate are mounted to the flywheel when you run the engine on a test stand? Thanks, the Registry forum has been my most valuable tool during this rebuild.

[John Brooks]

Brian

Should not matter, either way. I usually do install the clutch prior to run in on a new engine but unless there is a huge imbalance on the pressure plate it would be fine

[Chuck Allard]

I do it either way.

[Al Zim]

At Zim's once we are done with the engine we lift it off the stand on a pallet with a fork lift. I know that most of you do not have a fork lift! Once we set it on the ground we attach the starter side from a 36HP VW transmission and use a 12 Volt (you can use a 6 volt) starter with 6 volt teeth. We install a mechanical oil pressure gauge where the idiot light sender is located. This is 1/8 inch pipe thread use a flexible line. We put a 12 volt coil laying on the sheet metal next to the distributor. The coil gets a jumper wire to battery terminal on the starter and a wire to the distributor. Attach your jumper cables ground to the transmission case and positive to the starter. You will need a short wire from the solenoid to touch the positive cable and activate the system. For fuel we use a motorcycle gas supply that is a one quart plastic container with a rubber hose to attach to the fuel pump. Leave the coil wire disconnected and crank the engine till the sound smooths out. Now you have oil pressure. Attach the power wire to the coil and the engine should start. NO need for an oil temperature gauge since you cannot get the engine hot without a load and you are not going to break it in at 5,000 RPM. No need for a tachometer since the engine is not broken in. It took longer to write this than it does to get an engine running. al zim

[Albert Tiedemann]

At Zim's once we are done with the engine we lift it off the stand on a pallet with a fork lift. I know that most of you do not have a fork lift! Once we set it on the ground we attach the starter side from a 36HP VW transmission and use a 12 Volt (you can use a 6 volt) starter with 6 volt teeth. We install a mechanical oil pressure gauge where the idiot light sender is located. This is 1/8 inch pipe thread use a flexible line. We put a 12 volt coil laying on the sheet metal next to the distributor. The coil gets a jumper wire to battery terminal on the starter and a wire to the distributor. Attach your jumper cables ground to the transmission case and positive to the starter. You will need a short wire from the solenoid to touch the positive cable and activate the system. For fuel we use a motorcycle gas supply that is a one quart plastic container with a rubber hose to attach to the fuel pump. Leave the coil wire disconnected and crank the engine till the sound smooths out. Now you have oil pressure. Attach the power wire to the coil and the engine should start. NO need for an oil temperature gauge since you cannot get the engine hot without a load and you are not going to break it in at 5,000 RPM. No need for a tachometer since the engine is not broken in. It took longer to write this than it does to get an engine running. al zim

..."This is 1/8 inch pipe thread"... Actually M10 x 1

..."It took longer to write this than it does to get an engine running." Very plausible, if an only if time starts when the fork lift interfaces for engine removal from the stand.
Q. Was that a photo or 1973 Belmont Stakes finish?