Driving side mainshaft bearing distance piece

Previously ferdinand_vandenboomen wrote:

Hello forum,

My name is Ferdinand van den Boomen and I am new here.

I am restoring a 16H in Holland.

The question that I have is the following:

Is it correct that between the two mainshaft bearings on the driving side there is a distance piece placed to separate the 2 bearings??

There is certainly room enough to place a distance piece.

I can see in the big 4 manual that a big four has a distance piece, but the 16H manual and part list is not very clear on this matter (at least not for me).

And,second question,if I need one for my 16H, where could I obtain one?

Thank you in advance.

Yes you are right, there is a spacer. See my picture.

Note the holes for the oil.

The 'Mainshaft Bearing Distance Piece" - Part no. 4155 first appeared in the WD parts book for contract C10217 (engine no. W45001 onwards).

'Most' 16H engines don't seem to have a spacer in...I think that I've only ever found one...In theory, all WD 16H engine parts should be interchangeable...but either the spacers came in various sizes or some crankcases were right at the bottom of the permitted tolerances.

It may be necessary to grind a spacer in order to prevent pre-loading in some crankcases.

There was presumably a reason for the introduction of the spacers under service use - it may have been linked to the rather horrible self-aligning bearings that were specified at the time.

If your cases are in good condition, then it would seem unlikely that the lack of a spacer would cause problems.