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Crankshaft End Play

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Tabcon

Tabcon

Jedi Warrior
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When I first installed my crankshaft a month or so ago, the end play was around .010", so I ordered some larger thrust washers that are oversized by .005". This should have translated into an end play of .005". However, after I installed the crank today, it was so tight I couldn't turn it by hand but only with a wrench attached to the crank/fan bolt. The second I loosened the cap holding the thrust washers, I could easily turn it by hand.

The new thrust washers I'm using, as well as all the main and rod bearings were coated by Calico Coatings. I'm thinking the coating may be making the thrust washers a bit too thick and making the crank difficult to turn. I also had my oil pump and the internals coated with the same material. It too wouldn't spin very easily at first, so I greased it up a little and attached a drill to the end of the pump shaft. It loosened up nicely and works fine now.

I have a set of new (non-coated) standard sized thrust washers also. Would it be alright to mix and match the 2 different sized washers, i.e the standard size on one side of the journal and the oversized coated washers on the other, or would it be best just to try and remove some material from the oversized washers?
 
Have ya mic'd the two sets to SEE what's what?

The other thing is: WHY would relieving the torque on the cap allow the thing to turn, yet be bound when tight? <span style="font-style: italic">Something else</span> is goin' on there, methinks.

The thrust bearings are only ~held~ in place by the cap, not supposed to exert any lateral force on the thrust washers. After you've spun the crank forcibly, do the faces of the spacers show any galling or wear evidence? Especially at the tips where the cap joins the block?
 
Try setting things up in two stages, first use one half of a thrust washer and take it to torque and see how it feels, then addin the other half and repeat. In reassembling an engine I found that the caps had slightly different dimensions and had to use two different size thrust washers to make it fit well.
 
Its always been a little tough to hand turn a new crank after installing all new bearings and so fourth, at least until rotating it a few times (maybe 4 or so revolutions)... I hope your using assembly lube on everything. I'm sure you are, so maybe you should remove that cap and see if there is any sign of binding. I'm also wondering if maybe part of the thrust washer is not installed all the way.

Tabcon said:
Would it be alright to mix and match the 2 different sized washers, i.e the standard size on one side of the journal and the oversized coated washers on the other, or would it be best just to try and remove some material from the oversized washers?
Click to expand...

Mixing should be ok... as long as there's not an incredible amount of difference which would possible result in one set falling out. You should probably mic the 2 sets and see how much of a difference that coating makes and just use your head from there.

No I would not try to remove any of the material from the oversized washers... it may lead to uneven, and premature wear... thus negating the reason you got them in the 1st place.
 
My bad!

I had the center bearing cap facing in the wrong direction. You can barely make out the numbering on it and in my zeal to get the engine together, I stuck it in bass ackwards.

I did have to remove .001" from the non-coated side of each of the thrust washers though. Perfect fit now with an end play of .005".

I'll double check everyting next time before posting anymore stupid questions.

Thanks!
 
:lol:

Not like any of ~US~ ever did somethin' like that... :wink:
 
The funny thing about this particular cap, is that the number is stamped in the center of the cap as opposed to one side or the other. The other two caps are clearly marked on the right side under where the washer would be.

No excuses though...I goofed and I should be punished. Please send Charlize Theron over immediately to administer a harsh spanking.
 
No excuses though...I goofed and I should be punished. Please send Charlize Theron over immediately to administer a harsh spanking.

[/quote]

Dream on pilgrim.
 
Sorry, I meant bearing caps, not thrust washer.
 
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