I have the crank and cam in the engine, all the bearings etc. I assembled the previous into the case half with the studs in it. I think that's the left side. So, I drop the Right on to the left and it wont close by 1/2". When I put the nuts on and tighten, the cam and crank bind up. So, something is binding, I just don't know what. Any suggestions? The crank bearings are seated on the pins and the bearings are set down into the case as they should be. I just can't figure it out and its DRIVING ME NUTS!!!!!*explitive rant*
Case assembly problem
- Thread starter Nic
- Start date
letterman7
Honorary Admin
I've never split and rebuilt an engine, but from what I understand that's fairly common. I think the "fix" is to simply set the other side of the case in place - no nuts - and rotate the crank as you wiggle the other half. If there is any play in the crank or cam laterally, something is wrong, so make sure that they aren't moving before you drop the other half in place. Did you say you were upgrading the cylinders and pistons or something like that? If so, could be that the rod bolts are hitting an internal web... you'll need to check for clearances internally as well.
Peter
Active member
Unless the two halves close with a nice clunk, DO NOT try to force them together, it will bugger the cases up.
Just trying to think if I had that problem as I have had mine apart like a fiddlers elbow with new bits and upgrades like H section rods etc.
Assuming your rods are going into the respective bores and the right case is empty apart from the mains shells, 1/2" sounds like a bearing is not lining up. did come across a guy who had left half a main bearing in the case which had that effect. there is nothing in the right case that would do that, it's just that, a case.
Try lifting the cam out and assemble without it, same problem, pop it back in and pop the crank out, one or the other will work so you will know where to look
OR.
Try this trick, lay a piece of white kitchen paper over the assembled half and then carefully lower the right half until it touches, lift it off and you will see where the contact points are.
Peter.
Just trying to think if I had that problem as I have had mine apart like a fiddlers elbow with new bits and upgrades like H section rods etc.
Assuming your rods are going into the respective bores and the right case is empty apart from the mains shells, 1/2" sounds like a bearing is not lining up. did come across a guy who had left half a main bearing in the case which had that effect. there is nothing in the right case that would do that, it's just that, a case.
Try lifting the cam out and assemble without it, same problem, pop it back in and pop the crank out, one or the other will work so you will know where to look
OR.
Try this trick, lay a piece of white kitchen paper over the assembled half and then carefully lower the right half until it touches, lift it off and you will see where the contact points are.
Peter.
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Brett Proctor
Well-known member
I've been holding off commenting on this because stuff like this is kind of hard to trouble shoot if your not there to check things out, but if your still having trouble with it you could remove one part at a time and check if the cases go back together after removing that one part. When the cases match after you remove a part then you'll have an idea of what part is causing the problem and look into that part of the build.
Brett
Brett
I pulled all the gubbins out, crank, cam, lifters and tried again. the case still isnt closing. it almost feels like the guide pins on the case are the problem, but I cant be sure. Whats odd is it fit together fine when I last put it together. Im not sure WTF is going on. The Permatex is still on the left half of the case so Im worried about the halves touching and then I can't part them. BLEH.
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
I've had issues using permatex in the past and quit using it. Switched to Three Bond and never had another problem( use to split alot of cases on motorcycles). I use their 1211 and 1104 products for putting engines together. I think the 1104 formula is made for engine case assembly applications. Used it on my subaru engine when I split the cases on that.
Sounds like Peter may have found the problem. That would cause the cases not going together and have that large of a gap in them. Pictures are always a plus when trying to trouble shoot something like this.
Brett
I still haven't gotten the case half together yet. I had been very patient and quadruple checking everything the last week. Last night I pulled checked to make sure the crank bearings were sitting down fully on both sides of the case. They are. I pulled the cam out of left half and pulled the lifters out of the right half leaving only the crank in the left with it's bearings. I put the 2 halves together and tapped around the edges a little and spun the crank. got out some bar clamps and put a little pressure, spun the crank. and repeated those 2 steps about 10 times until I have the case halves closed and the crank was still spinning. Thats as far as I got last night. Next I'll split the case again and drop in the cam and repeat. I think its the locator pins at the opposing corners that are binding up. Im going to put some molylube on them the next time I try to close it up with the cam and lifters inside. I'll keep ya'll updated.
Side note - wife goes in for surgery tomorrow for her hand. She'll be laid up for 2-4 weeks.
Side note - wife goes in for surgery tomorrow for her hand. She'll be laid up for 2-4 weeks.