The Place

hi suzuki K7/8 are very prone to oil air locking after a complete rebuild the way we used to do it is as Lang says use plenty of
rebuild oil everywhere then when you fill with oil always fill the filter before fitting it to the engine only use Suzuki filters take the plugs out then look on the left hand side of the head [standing behind the engine] there a 6mm [10mm spanner size] chrome bolt REMOVE THIS its only very short and crank the engine over on the starter until oil pores out of the bolt hole. it sometimes takes quite a while so dont panic once the oil pumps out of there replace the bolt and you should have oil pressure we had the same problem as you until an engine builder told us how he did it
hope this helps
John
oh i think the bolt has a copper washer on it

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply. We do take out the bolt at the top of the head. It just seemed like the engine was cranking over for ages without raising pressure. I can only think that this damaged the shells (I didn't use assembly lube, just engine oil on the shells).

Looking at the crank it doesn't appear to be blocked, the main journal shells are absolutely fine, but all the con rods are discoloured, they have all been very hot. I'm pretty sure it airlocked between the oil pump and oil filter, we always fill the new oil filter with oil. I am thinking of trying to pressure fill the galleries with oil in future, which will avoid having to turn the crank at all until there is pressure.

It is strange, we have had similar problems of getting the pressure up before, but never had the big ends go. Now we have had 2 go in a short space of time. Maybe we were lucky previously.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/32210254 ... noapp=true

This is what we use to build all of our engines! Only place not to use it is on the bores!