Hi Foureasy.
I completely agree with your assessment of crankshaft installation.
I assembled my replacement crankshaft (that was trued) in the same manner as you've suggested.
Trying to clamp the crankshaft in place using the case halves and screwing the cases together only puts compressive stress through the crankpin area of the crankshaft, causing it to distort.
From that point all the effort to true the crankshaft has just become a waste of time, and even worse, if a hammer is used to bash on the case halves to help close up the cases when the screws won't close up any further.
I've thought about an even easier method, though somewhat more difficult in ways.
The next time i'm replacing a crankshaft, i'll be using liquid nitrogen to first shrink freeze the crank so that heated crankshaft bearings will easily slide onto their respective shafts.
After that, i'll shrink freeze the crankshaft and bearings (using the liquid nitrogen method) and heat the aluminium cases to close the case halves up against each other without applying a compressive load on the crankshaft halves (counterweights).
My local doctor has liquid nitrogen in his surgery.
I'm going to be bold and book a doctors appointment and get him to apply the liquid nitrogen to the parts.
I can't see it taking more than 10 mins; well within the allotted 15 minute time frame for seeing a paying patient.
Getting him to throw the case halves and the bearings in the heated sterilization unit could require a bit more persuasion.
Fabian
