How to bench test an engine?

kachemakian · 01-20-2009, 04:24 PM

Hi again Gents,
I have a 2L with a side shifter that I picked up several years ago. Is it possible to fire up one with D-Jetronic with it sitting on the floor without too much trouble? I have done this by priming with fuel down the air intake but would like to test the injection system and get it ready to run before I pull the 1.7L out. Also, is there a way to check the syncros without tearing down?

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

You can set up the electrical signals to run the engine out of the car, but it's a bit of a pain to figure out exactly what needs to get 12V, what needs to get ground, etc.

I don't know of any way to check the synchros without either physically inspecting them (e.g., gearbox teardown) or running the engine and trying to shift gears in the transmission.

--DD

spoke · 01-23-2009, 07:45 AM

I've been testing a 1.8L with D-Jet outside of the car for a while. There aren't many wires to connect. It's just getting the wires connected that can be confusing.

There are only 4 wires to the FI Brain. One drives the Fuel pump relay, one is input from the ignition switch to let the brain know the engine is being cranked, and +12V input (I think 2 wires).

The only other wires are for the starter and coil. Coil takes 12V as does the starter. Connect 12V to the starter solenoid and it will spin the starter.

In my case, I connected long hoses from the car to the fuel pump so I use the car's gas tank for fuel. I've since put the engine on a furniture dolly so I could point the exhaust out of the garage.

kachemakian · 01-23-2009, 08:04 AM

So, the way you are doing it you have to be beside the car? My 2.0 was removed with all of the electronics still plugged into the engine harness, and all of the components laid on top of the engine. The car (72 1.7) is also D-Jetronic and has another whole set of FI components still in it even though it has been carbed.

spoke · 01-23-2009, 10:23 AM

I have about 8 feet of hose so I can easily move the engine around. Connecting to the gas tank gives me a lot of fuel to run for extended periods of time, a fuel feed with a filter, and a fuel return. If the tank is pulled from the car, then the whole system can be moved independent of the car.

I've run the engine upwards of 30 minutes at a time to make sure it warms up. When not running it, the engine is tucked away in the corner of the garage.