18R-G oil pump problem

[72ke20]

I'm having a problem with my 18R-G oil pump. I can stick a screwdriver in the dizzy hole and turn the pump and it works fine. but when the engine is running it wont pump. I have had the pump out and it all looks fine. Has anyone had this problem before. could it be a timing chain problem or something. the engine is squashed into an RA60 so I will have to take it out to pull the chain covers off.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Is there any online info you know of that could help. Im biding on an 18R manual so will hopefully have that in a few days

Should the pump be able to be turned by a screwdriver or should it be locked in place when the engine is off.

[Celica RA45]

is the disy sitting into the slot when you fire it up so it turns the pump .or has your disy no tongue on the end of disy

[Dazza]

It must have broken the end off the distributor shaft or else it has the wrong distributor in it. It wont be a timing chain problem because the oil pump is driven from the bottom of the distributor shaft.if your motor runs properly then the distributor must be turning

[Muziiz]

had this problem with one of my first 18rg`s it was worng distrubutor wasntg long enough to drive the oil pump !

first check that the dizzy gets into it properly and make sure the tongue is still there !

[ra_28]

Hi

if we are talking about an 18rg the dizzy does not drive the oil pump the dizzy is mounted front timing cover. 18rc use the dizzy to drive the pump

There is a small gear similar to the bottom of the dizzy which sits in the hole and has a cover over it.

What i have done to prime the pump in the past is use a flat blade screw drive and a drill to rotate the pump. Yes you will have to cut the end off the screw driver but it works.

Did you check the relif valve when you had the pump out?

Regards
Alex

[checksix]

It's been a long time since I had my 18RG apart, and I do remember when I built it, priming the oil system EXACTLY as RA-28 describes by using a long straight piece of brake tubing that I flattened in a vice on one end. If you have a green book it is fig 5-115 and 5-119. I also opened the hood on mine and looked. There is a cover plate just above the oil filter, and this is where the spur gear RA-28 is talking about. This gear is driven off of a shaft that that starts with the lower cam gear and simulates the gear on the 18RC distributor.

We know the shaft turns since the engine runs (Cams and distributor turn). I would do as RA-28 suggests and pull the cover, check that this gear turns when cranked, and then perhaps pull the gear, and run the make shift shaft down from a drill to the pump and see if you can make pressure. Note the rotation of the gear when testing, so you know which way to spin the drill. To do all this you might have to pull the intake manifold. Good luck, and let us know how it goes. Make sure you get the flat on the shaft off the spur gear back into the pump correctly when reassembling.

[72ke20]

Yea thats the thing I have the inlet off and that dizzy cap under it off. I was just turning the oil pump with a screw driver by hand and it works fine. problem is I can leave the screwdriver in the top of the pump and turn the engine over and the pump wont spin at all.

The pump is working and primed but the engine just isn't turning the pump. I will have a better look at it this arvo. I may even take the sump off again. ill post back if I find the problem. keep any other ideas you have coming

[checksix]

When you pulled off the cover to access the oil pump, there should have been a small gear with a short shaft (the exact same dimensions as the gear and shaft on the distributor, and the small gear would have a flat to drive the oil pump. This flat interfaces with an extension from the pump. Was the gear and short shaft present? If I remember, you have to remove this to have access to turn the pump with a screw driver. If the gear and shaft are present, then look next to verify the pump extension this interfaces with. Plese let us know.

I may be able to scan the photo of this gear and shaft needed, but will need to find some software for my all in one printer. I tried to scan earlier, but it said to reload the software. The trick for me is to find the missing CD or find it on line.

[72ke20]

Ok DAMN thats it exactly. I had a better look and I could see the gear that is suposed to turn the dizzy and oil pump. I was thinking if only there was some shaft with a gear that went into the oil pump HAHA.

Option 1:
would a 21R dizzy work if it was in there. I have one sitting at my work I could hack the top off and just use the botom half For the sole purpose of pumping oil

Option 2:
Has anybody got a spare oil pump attachment shaft thing from an 18R-G. Ill take this question to the classifieds forum.

[72ke20]

21R dizzy does not work, It doesnt have the flat bit at the end for spinning the oil pump. Option 2 it is then. hopefully a local mate can help me out otherwise im gona be hanging out on ebay

[checksix]

The getto fix would be to hack off the top of the 21R, and grind your own flat on the shaft. Not sure I'd get that desperate (YET). So I take it you just bought this engine and it was missing the gear and shaft that mimics the end of the distributor? Any chance the original ower of the engine has it and just forgot to put it in last time it was apart? Seems a very odd piece to go missing.

[72ke20]

I just emaild the guy. its a good point you made there. and yes it is a new engine for me. Thanks