put new crank and main bearings in but cranks hard to turn

razorback746

New Member
Jan 19, 2010
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Dayton,Ohio
well i put in a brand new crank shaft and main bearings and seals it cranks fine but when i put in the case bolts that holds both cases togethor it gets harder to move. any help please
 
huh, to state the obvious something must not be exactly right. did you get the crank bearings on the correct sides? like left crank bearing on the left side of the crank?
 
yea cause the clutch side bearing is the bigger bearing cause there different sizes. but my teacher told me to just hit each side with a hammer it gets better but it seems a little hard.
 
i frooze the bearings over nite and torch the bearing holder and they went in with a little bit of hammering but idk it moves ok but not as smoother as i thought
 
You must center the crank in the cases using a puller and feeler gauges until it has even clearance on both sides, once that is done the crank will still seem a bit stiff when trying to turn with the rod in your hand.
 
i would say to tear it apart again and reasemmble.....i know it sucks but i have done many times trying to match odd cases together.....do it until the crank spins freely
 
Put the crank puller back on and try seating them together again.I have had this happen when tightening one side the other bearing moves a bit.The crank should spin fairly easy.If that doesn't work freek is correct just tear it back apart and try again.
 
I really think you have to take it apart and do it over. This is not the best way, but it will work. The bad news............. you can't pound the bearings that are in there out and re-use them so get a new set. Install your transmission. I'm assuming you're doing this with the clutch side down. Take a propane torch and heat the area around where the bearing goes for about 2 minutes. Move the torch around in circles following the the outer race. Make sure the seal isn't on the other side. After you heat the case, drop the bearing in. It should just drop in all the way. If you're pounding it in........you didn't get it hot enough or the bearing is going in crooked. If this happened........... Buy new bearings again. Let that side of the case cool. When cool, put the new seal in then drop the crankshaft in. It should just slide in. Make sure you oil the seal first. I use PC grease. I'm assuming you don't have the proper tools to assemble the other half. Take the second half ( stator side ) and do the same thing you did on the other side to drop the bearing in. Let it cool and install the seal. Line the case up and drop it down as far as you can. This is the tricky part........... Take two C clamps and mount them to both sides of the motor mounts. DON'T CLAMP THEM DOWN HARD. Just put a little pressure on them. Take a rubber mallet and tap on the stator case. As the clamps get loose..........give them a little more pressure and then tap the case. Keep doing this until you can get the case bolts started. This is a balancing act. You need to tighten the bolts slowly in a X pattern and tighten the clamps till the cases are sealed. Keep looking to make Sure everything is going down straight. Focus on the crankshaft bolts..........this is where most of the resistance will be. Don't worry about the crankshaft turning at this point. When you get the cases together..........you need to set the crank. Take a hammer, protect the crank with whatever, and give it a firm shot on the clutch side. Feel the rotation. Keep plugging till it turns free. I have to tell you this is absolutely hack engine building but it will work if you're careful. Good luck and be careful. If you need help.. give me a call.
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