Boat Forum / Cruising / June 2004

gene/rickie, take a look at the bearing that bears the legion (big words, I
know, but deal with it)

"Since oil is the medium used to separate the rotating shaft from the bearing,
without oil pressure (which can be as high as 6,000-8000 psi), the journal
rotating on the dry bearing melts and destroys the bearing."

then remember that an engine has NO pressure oil in the galleys upon startup
and not enough oil in the galleys -- unless the engine has been prelubed -- to
to even have pressure to *any* bearing for several seconds and *all* bearings
for upwards of thirty seconds.  Keep in mind that the oil pressure sender unit
is normally between the oil pump and the very first bearing needing pressure
oil (I know, big words, but deal with it)

http://www.lycoming.textron.com/main.jsp?bodyPage=/support/publications/ke
yReprints/maintenance/moreAboutOil.html

like I said, dry start your engine if you wish, but only recommend other people
do so if your specific intent is to cause engine damage so you can have a good
supply of broken engines to overload the qualified mechanics (hammer mechanics
are NOT qualified)