Crankshaft nightmares!

[riceburner006]

Bill,I'm overhauling a Z motor,and noticed a small amount of
verticle play in the r.s. rod. I rigged up a mag. dial indicator and
it has a clearance of 4.5 thous. You would never know this till
after I flushed the bearings out with some brakeclean. I know it's
beyond the limit,do you think it's worh even trying to get some time
out of it? All the other bearings are OK. This is the side that
becomes magnetized by the alternator,and maybe holds onto flak in
the bearings. My expierience has been once they start to go,it won't
be long before it starts to rap! Cranks are no longer $129.99!!
Riceburner006

[dealadayray]

Hi Rice;
Your question brings up a different point. It's no longer the price of
the crankshaft, it's the rest of the engine too. Metal chips flow
throughout the engine and transmission. Bearings to the rest of the engine
are subject to the problems of the crank shaft. Seized pistons, locking
bearings on the primary and secondary transmission shafts, the needles on
the thrust bearing at the oil pump rod and If some of the metal plugs the
hydraulic tensioner, you start eating away at the slipper and center roller
with a timing chain jumping all over the place.
So the long range implications of a crankshaft that is marginal at best
is not worth the time or effort to save it. Save the rest of the engine
while you can.
Bill