Question on Intermediate shaft bearings
 

Hi All,

Working with a friend on a 3.2 motor. installed the intermediate shaft & bearings with nothing else, bolted up some of the case bolts and the shaft binds. can't turn it by hand...

Is this normal?

Thanks

Ray

I'm trying to figure why you would take the time to install just the intermediate shaft and tentatively close the case and spin the shaft. With only 2 bearings for resistance you have either crushed the bearings or you have something wedged in the oil pump.
What made you decide to just load the shaft, there must be some premonition about the build
Bruce

Everything turned here last weekend
 

We did not even have the oil pump. I think we felt that the bearings were tough to install and wanted to check.

We also then installed the crank and shaft...

I guess I would have expected to see the shaft just spin with nothing but it installed...

Ray

You are in good hands........
 

Ray,

If I understood your post correctly, you have not sealed the crankcase at this point. But have the halves together with internals components except the oil pump? The crankshaft and intermediate shaft connected to oil pump should rotate freely before putting the other half. And even after the second half of the crankcase. What is preventing you from opening the crankcase for further inspection?

Listen to Bruce or PM him. He is my engine rebuild mentor and unselfishly taught me and others how get around when your are in a predicament like yours. Keep us posted.

Tony

Hi Tony,

Easier than that. We installed the bearing shell for the intermediate shaft, lubed up those shells, and with nothing else in the motor, put the shaft in - no chains, no crank... mated the halves together, and spun down 1/2 dozen or so nuts. expected to be able to simply spin the intermediate shaft. Did not have any plasti-gauge, but the shaft did bind, and we were wondering if that is in any way normal. tried 2 sets of bearings - Porsche bearings, and non-Porsche...

When all the bits are installed - pump, crank, bearings etc and the case is bolted up, the crank will turn, but at this point there is some mechanical advantage helping and things will turn...

Ray

Does not make sense at all.......
 

Ray,

With the intermediate shaft installed between the two halves of the crankcase, how could you turn the intermediate shaft by hand? I got very small hands and could barely reach or touch the gear. Anyway, something was not right when you installed the intermediate shaft that caused it to bind. Why were you testing the intermediate shaft fitment in the first place?

Tony

Hi Tony,

Because we had concerns on bearing fitment...

Ray

Did you install the number 8 bearing housing in the case? If not, i'll bet that's your problem. That bearing housing/insert needs to be in place to locate/register the case.

Thanks KTL,

That occurred to us as well. We tried it and the shaft was still rather difficult to turn by hand, not impossible, just difficult...

Ray

Just a thought from an unexperienced rookie: how much lube?

I agree with "boy 911sc" reaching that shaft with youre fingers is a bit tricky.

It's my experience that the assembly lube "builds" a bit more than oil. Try the same thing with just oil.

Another thought. The case halves are of the same serial number right? If in doubt, read through my grinding of crank thread. Hope you don't have another case of "pandoras engine"😯

Best regards
pelle

Turns out it was the case - thanks for your help...

It had sustained damage some time ago and had moved...

Ray