Old Engine - Journals don't fit?

[Csarneson]

I am reassembling my BN4 which has been apart for 40 years. Today I went to work on the bottom end and the journals don't quite fit. They are very close but will not slide into their positions. Has my block just warped a little or is this normal? Obviously I can grind down the sides a little but it just seems so weird? I'm going to try freezing them first but I don't expect it to make enough difference. I lightly filed all mating surfaces to see if there were any dented corners creating high spots but can't find anything like that.



Thanks guys!

Chris

 

[red57]

They are a light press fit - tap them into place with a brass hammer. Do not free-hand grind them down, they need to be tight.
Dave

 

[Csarneson]

Perfect! I froze them hoping to make them smaller and then succeeded in driving them into place with moderate taps with a dead-blow hammer. I think I was just afraid when they didn't just slide right into place.

Thanks Dave!