How much end play should a crankshaft have?
On a traditional small-block Chevy, the endplay should be 0.0020. 006 inch. An in-service daily driver may slide by with up to 0.010 inch without problems. Anything over 0.015 is asking for trouble.
How is crankshaft end play controlled?
Thrust bearings are used to control end play in the crankshaft. If an engine is assembled with too much end play in the crank, or if the thrust bearing fails, the forward movement of the crankshaft in the block can chew up the main bearing caps and block.
What causes crankshaft end play?
Crankshaft End Play Worn thrust bearings occur primarily in older vehicles with manual transmissions. Overloading and misalignment cause damage to these bearings. Excessive end play is evident after removing the oil pan. It damages and wears the crankshaft, main caps, and engine block where the crankshaft rides.
How do you adjust end play?
To ensure proper end play, a dial indicator should always be used. During adjustment, position the rollers tightly against the bearing cone (inner race) large rib. When tightening the adjusting nut or using a dial indicator to measure end play, always rotate or oscillate the rollers to be sure they are properly seated.
What is shaft end play?
End play is the total distance the shaft can move between the two thrust bearings and is sometimes called float, thrust bearing clearance or axial clearance. As end play becomes larger, the unloaded (slack) bearing will see a larger gap.
What controls the end play when measured at the input shaft?
After the input shaft protrusion is measured, that dimension is transfered to the depth gauge. Then the depth gauge is used to determine the endplay of the input shaft.
How do you get a crankshaft to move?
Remove the flywheel and push in on the bearing. (Prying with a large screwdriver works well.) Push the crank back in from the pulley end. Repeat. What you’re trying to do is make the crankshaft move longitudinally through the case. Look for movement at both/either end of the crankshaft.
Can a std.bearing change end play?
Std. Bearing and oversize thrust are the same outside width so that shouldn’t change your end play. Before doing any machine work, put a .015 shim in there and re check it. I bet you will have more then .005 left Are you checking endplay with the pistons and cylinders in place?
What did Dave do with his VW engine?
Dave stripped everything off of the engine block, then loaded it into the truck, and hauled it to a VW shop in a neighboring city. The mechanic there found that the spun bearing had done irreparable damage to the engine case — he reamed the case out, but the oversize bearing still spun in it.