crankshaft problem

[coldstreamer]

hi guys ,
i have just spent the week putting the engine and gearbox in , new poly bushes new discs and today i have been connecting all the pipework to the oil cooler and the power steering pump , fitted up all the rubber hoses rad and fan , now the bad bit , turning the crankshaft to fit the pulleys , i found a hairline crack running into the timing caseing , this is the best place for someone with a lot more knowledge than me to give me some sound advise , the engine was rebuilt about ten years ago and has never been fired up , i,m gutted , any idea's what i can do please , the car has been off the road for 18 years now ,just got it back from the spray shop ,new stainess bumpers , now might need a new engine ,

andy

[stagmuffin]

andy you realy need to post a pic of this ,if it is the timing cover with the crack no problem cheap and easy enough to find or better still just weld your old one . if you post a pic im sure it will help no end .
steve

[V Mad]

Timing cases are easy to get and replace. Maybe it was overtightened? As Steve says post a pic showing where and maybe we can put your mind at rest.

[coldstreamer]

thanks guys
,i wish it was the timing cover , its the actual shaft that the pully wheel sits on , its on the shiny bit that goes into the timing cover ,i,m going to fire it up this week ,to see it will go , i,ve been like a kid at christmas this last couple of weeks i bought your webber kit chris and it really makes the engine bay look the biz, . i thought i could take off the cover , weld the crack and grind it smooth again , but i,m not sure i would do more damage , i.me really peed off now , i.v spent thousands on getting it ready , and i cant afford a new engine ,

thanks, andy

[stagmuffin]

andy i think i would establish and confirm this is a fracture /crack in the crank it is in an unstressed area and i have never heard of this before in this area.stress fractures can be common but not here.simple but effective test is to use a dye pen type flaw detector in the first instance to establish the flaw.you may need to remove the timing cover to effect this fully .if the test proves inconclusive it may polish out.some bad scratches have shown as cracks before now filled with muck they are convicing but simply polish out i hope this is your case.
steve.

[coldstreamer]

hi steve ,

the engine was very tight to turn , andi have been winding it over with a pair of stilsons on the pully bolt ,would i have over tightened the bolt and caused the crack that way ,i have just noticed that the pully shaft has a hirline crack as well
just a thought ,

sick as a pig ,andy

[flying farmer]

When you say it is on the shiney bit that goes into the timing cover (I am assuming where the oil seal sits), then this is not the crank, but part of the pulley. You can not see any part of the crank with the engine assembled, the oil seal runs on a turned down part of the pulley. This will explain why the crack also seems to be on the pulley shaft as well, it is the same component
Neil

[stagmuffin]

When you say it is on the shiney bit that goes into the timing cover (I am assuming where the oil seal sits), then this is not the crank, but part of the pulley. You can not see any part of the crank with the engine assembled, the oil seal runs on a turned down part of the pulley. This will explain why the crack also seems to be on the pulley shaft as well, it is the same component
Neil

well spotted neil hopefully this is the problem and an easy/cheap fix.
steve

[coldstreamer]

thanks neil and steve ,
i will try and pull the pulley off tomorrow night , you dont know what a relief this is ,this site is the best , you can allways bank on someone to come along and sort it ,brilliant , i can now go and eat my tea,

regards ,andy

[StagnJag]

The Pulley is attached to its shaft via a rubber anti-vibration sleeve. Your best bet I believe is to lever it off from behind so you don't damage it.

Rgds

Dave

[jbuckl]

Try to keep us informed / post a picture.

[coldstreamer]

will do,i will take some picks tonight , and will get my son to put them on ,
thanks for all your help ,

andy