Question on Crank play??

[TRICKSIXPA]

Was underneath the GN today installing my pipes for the IC. I grabed my crank pulley (belt is not hooked up)to see if I could turn it by hand. It didn't budge but when I pushed it forward it moved about 1/16" or a hair more. I can move it back and forth like that. Is this OK? or do I have an issue.

 

[TurboDave]

Are you saying the crank pully moved fore and aft?? If so, NO!!!! Either the crank has too much play or the pulley bolt is loose or has developed play. Either way, it's not right.

 

[TRICKSIXPA]

Are you saying the crank pully moved fore and aft?? If so, NO!!!! Either the crank has too much play or the pulley bolt is loose or has developed play. Either way, it's not right.

Yes when I grabbed the Pulley it moved forward, and then I could push it back. Does not move any other direction. Can the pulley develop play on its own. To me it feels like the whole thing is moving pulley and crank.

 

[TurboDave]

If you still have the intercooler fan on the crank hub, I highly recommend you get it removed so you can get a good look at the hub bolt, and check it's torque, and see if the hub is moving to and from the bolt, or if the bolt is following the hub movement. If the bolt is moving in and out in sync with the hub, then you've got a LOT of crank play that should not be there.

 

[Jerryl]

Like Dave said: No good

1/16 = 0.0625
Max crank end play is 0.015"

 

[Ttype6]

Did you measure with a dial indicator or any other kind of measuring devise?

 

[pacecarta]

thrust play should be atleast .003 max is .011 ,
any more indicates excessive thrust clearance .... worn out #2 main bearing thrust surface /crank thrust surface
make sure the balancer bolt is tightened

 

[Jerryl]

thrust play should be atleast .003 max is .011 ,
any more indicates excessive thrust clearance .... worn out #2 main bearing thrust surface /crank thrust surface
make sure the balancer bolt is tightened

Correct . . had a brain fart on the 0.015 number

 

[TRICKSIXPA]

I think it's time to check the bearings. I only say this cause last Oil change there was a brass/copper (small)piece attached to my magnetic drain plug. Looks like this will be on hold until I Move. If I get some time and drop the pan I can take a look but thats about it.

 

[bryesh]

1. I had a similar thing happen on a ford escort one time. There was excessive thrust play on the crank itself (not just the balancer but the crank snout itself), probably the 1/16" like you are saying or a little more. It turned out the be that the crank had cracked into two pieces. The front piece had cracked just behind the #1 bearing (I have it right next to me right now and use it as a paper weight!) The forward-most main bearing was torn down to the brass backing because it was supporting the front part of the crank after it had snapped and the loads from the timing and accessory belts. A new crank and bearings, and the engine was like new!

There was only a small knock when the car was running that I only noticed when I pulled it into a parking garage, I would have never guessed that the crank was in two pieces.


Hopefully yours is not (I have never heard of this before or since, so probably not) but 1/16" is a lot for a thrust bearing to be worn! Keep us updated, it will be interesting to know. I think that one way to tell for sure that the crank is intact is to move the front pulley in and out and make sure that the flex plate mounted to the the rear of the crank moves the same. On my engine it did not.