Bad Bearings - How Galling!

[Keoke]

HI Healey Gal, there is one question that has not been entertained yet! What did the mechanic attribute the bearing failure too??---Keoke

 

[healeygal]

Skip and Keoke,

Yes, all the bearings were bad. As an explanation, seem to recall a comment like they weren't properly preserved or stored (in grease?)

As I recall, when the engine was rebuilt, the crank was sent out, had to be built up and oversized bearings were used. Sorry I can't be any more specific than that - barely know what this all means!

Sharon

 

[Keoke]

Healey Gal;
That makes some sense,proably should have trashed the crank,but it would take some time to find a replacement and new is probably costly. I think it may settle out.If you have to return the car to have the head retorqued I would pay a few bucks extra at that time for them to recheck the bearings. If they are ok you will probably be ok too.---FWIW---Keoke

 

[healeygal]

[ QUOTE ]
Healey Gal;
That makes some sense,proably should have trashed the crank,but it would take some time to find a replacement and new is probably costly.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, those were the reasons for not getting a new crank, if one is even available.

[ QUOTE ]

I think it may settle out.If you have to return the car to have the head retorqued I would pay a few bucks extra at that time for them to recheck the bearings. If they are ok you will probably be ok too.---FWIW---Keoke

[/ QUOTE ]

The first encouraging words of 2005! What would retorquing the head do? necessary as a result of things settling out?

Sharon

 

[Keoke]

Hi Sharon,glad to add a bit of sunshine to your problem. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Retourqing of the head is done to insure that the head to block seal is maintained after the thermal expansion and contractions of the head studs occurs due to initial engine run in.This is usually done after the first 200 miles or so of operation .-FWIW---Keoke

 

[Skip & Lynne]

Sharon a welded crank is as good as any if it is done properly. The crank has to be welded up turned back to standard and then straightened. There are several good places that can do this for you. SCAT does cranks and had done them for racing many years so don`t throw the crank away. Skip

 

[healeygal]

Skip, Keoke and all,

Thanks for all the info and advice. The car is at a friend's who's worked his magic on her many other deficiencies in the past couple of months (install electric fan, space-age insulation, wiper motor restoration, repair of 50-year old radio (it's so cute), extension pedals, and oh so much more - thanks Charlie!) Still waiting for better weather for the chip repair, then will print out this thread, consult with whoever will lend an ear, and get to work on resolving her oil consumption problem.

Sharon

 

[bob hughes]

Sharon, if the crank has been worked on, and the correct size shells fitted ( all at the same time) and all lubrication at the build stage was carried out, there could be a slim possibility that the oilways in the crank shaft were not properly cleaned out, but thinking about it, this would have scored the crank as well as the shells. What was the nature of the damage to the shells, wear or scoring?

Bob

 

[healeygal]

Hi Bob,

You know how some people deal with adversity or a serious problem by ignoring it? Well, not realizing the gravity or significance of the damage to the shells (bearings, I assume?) at the time, I didn't see them myself. A friend who stopped by the shop said they were pretty badly scored. Hoping for the best once I get in gear - that is, after the car gets home from the body shop with it's road chip repair and the rain finally stops here in Southern California. But with my Healey, you never know - wouldn't surprise me that now that the paint job is perfect, the engine has to be pulled for repairs - that's just how it goes with this car and my life in this lifetime! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Sharon