Mk.3 crankshaft end float

Hi Gary,

I too have had this issue, but on a '57 Domminator engine. I was never able to solve it. I assembled it and rode it. I am almost anxious to tear it down to see if the clearance has changed. I made certain that both races were fully set into the crankcases & the inner races were fully seated on the crank. Still a mystery to me, but I didn't want your post to get lost down the page.

Skip Brolund

Previously wrote:

Hi Guys,

I am restoring a MK3 and have replaced the main bearings did a test fit of the crank and had no float.

So I to make sure the bearings were full home popped them out, reseated them then tried the crank again this time there was some float but the cases were still warm. Now the cases have cooled there is again no float.

Reading the manual there should be .010 to .024.

Have I done something stupid, I will bring this up at the Bristol NOC meeting but thought I would ask here first.

Any ideas?

Have you checked the dimensions of the new bearings against the old ones? Could there be a difference that accounts for the lack of endfloat?

You say you reseated the bearings. Do you mean in the cases and on the crank or just the cases? New bearings will not be out that much; these parts are precision items. When you pulled the inner races from the crank were there any shims present? How did you press the inner races on? Heat will let them drop in place but if too much heat is used they will blue and any shim(s) if not seated properly can allow the race to sit off the surface enough to decrease float. Try tapping the inners down till you get that nice ring telling you they're fully home.

Gary do you mean that you have three small cracks in your timing side crankcase? If so beware! Little cracks can become big cracks. If this is so I wouldn't be hitting them, heated or otherwise.

Cheers

Alan