Has anyone ever had to prime aa A-series oil pump or ever had problems making it pick up oil?

I've just rebuild my A-15 and can't get oil pressure. When I did the motor I pulled the pump apart and checked it and cleaned it all. The pressure regulator and pressure releif
valves seem good. I tried priming the pump with Moreys Oil Stabiliser and it still didn't pick up oil. It's 11pm and I have decided to sleep on it. It's probably something really
simple that I've overlooked, I've been working on it non-stop since 8 this morning so I'm feeling a bit jaded.

I'm gonna have another crack at it in the morning so if anyone has any ideas don't hesitate.

Cheers,
Morgan

I've had that problem before. What I learned most from it is to not take the pumps apart without new replacement gaskets. If any air leaks into the inside of the pump, it will
lost prime and then cavitate. Replace your gaskets or better yet, replace the oil pump.

Mareo

I have always filled the pump with oil before installing. Makes a mess but it is primed. A problem that bit me once was I didn't get the tolerance correct when reassembling an
oil pump. It locked up and chewed all of the teeth off of the camshaft. It did give me an excuse to buy the Nissan Comp "Race cam #1" though. That was on an A-14 incidentally.

Although it sounds gross.... Having had this problem also, I usually pack them full of Vaseline. It stays in, doesn't make a mess, and disolves into the oil as soon as it warms up. I
think this is an old trick from the external pump GM motor rebuilds.

dimlight65 wrote:
I have always filled the pump with oil before installing. Makes a mess but it is primed. A problem that bit me once was I didn't get the tolerance correct when reassembling an oil pump.

The Vaseline trick is the official recommended procedure on Land Rover v8s. I used the technique myself on my Range
Rover. Worked perfectly.