storing the crank??

[beefalobilly]

It seems like I read somewhere that you should store a crank standing on end. Supposedly laying it down will cause it to warp ever so slightly and then give you problems down the road. Is there any truth to this?

[altered7151]

Yep, stand it on the end. Laying a crank on its side will actually cause the journals to "sag". I learned this the hard way working at Bill Miller engineering, I was helping the crew chief magnaflux some cranks and set one down on its side and I thought he was gonna punch me in the throat he was so pissed.

[Mopar_Nutz]

I've also heard of tying it to a wall stud or something so it doesn't fall over or get knocked

[Reaper1]

What about cams? Any special ways to store those?

[daytonairoc]

I have a crank kit sitting here in my basement. It has been stored in the box it was shipped with all it's packing material in place. I didn't seen anything wrong with storing it flat because the box/packing would support the crank.

Is this the wrong kind of thinking?

later

[ToiboTonaZee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by altered7151 Yep, stand it on the end. Laying a crank on its side will actually cause the journals to "sag". I learned this the hard way working at Bill Miller engineering, I was helping the crew chief magnaflux some cranks and set one down on its side and I thought he was gonna punch me in the throat he was so pissed.

LOL what a moron he must be used to working with some pretty cheap cranks if he thinks it was gunna sag for laying like that for 30 seconds. Its funny that a vehicle can sit for 20 years, and the camshaft doesnt get warped even tho certain lobes are gettin alot of force pushing on them from the valve springs. (depending on the location of the camshaft.)

[gakali]

I have a mint 2.5 crank that I was planning on using soon. But...its been laying down for a long time. I figure if I put it in the block and it spins freely it should be OK. What about plastigaging it at 180 degree positions. I think I should be able to tell if its bent or sagged. Thinking about it kinda makes me want to go out to the garage and flip it over!

[Mr P-body]

You should always use a dial indicator to check runout in the journals.They sell them in J+L industrial suply for around 50.00 bucks.


Mike~

[gakali]

I'll definately do that. Thanks.

[moparzrule]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToiboTonaZee LOL what a moron he must be used to working with some pretty cheap cranks if he thinks it was gunna sag for laying like that for 30 seconds. Its funny that a vehicle can sit for 20 years, and the camshaft doesnt get warped even tho certain lobes are gettin alot of force pushing on them from the valve springs. (depending on the location of the camshaft.)

First off, where did camshafts come into play here? The subject is cranks. And when a vehicle is ''sitting for 20 years'' it has the main bearings holding it up. There's no support when the crank is sitting out in the open unsupported. And yes it will bow a crank by sitting it on it's side. Obviously it takes more than 30 seconds, actually it takes about a week. But it's still a good habit to never set a crank on it's side in the first place. Forged cranks can be re-straightened if they bow, cast cranks are throwaway's when they bow.

[altered7151]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToiboTonaZee LOL what a moron he must be used to working with some pretty cheap cranks if he thinks it was gunna sag for laying like that for 30 seconds. Its funny that a vehicle can sit for 20 years, and the camshaft doesnt get warped even tho certain lobes are gettin alot of force pushing on them from the valve springs. (depending on the location of the camshaft.)

Well considering he was the crew chief for a professional top-fuel dragster chances are he's pretty sharp Actually he is a brilliant guy, he was mad because you should never be in the habit of storing the crank like that, obviously is wasn't going to distort in 30 seconds, but why do something that you know is bad? And how did you go from cranks to cams?

[moparzrule]

ALTERED your and my post look very similar! LOL :thumbs up

[Reaper1]

I'm the one who origionally asked about cams....I'm still interested in knowing how to propperly store a cam....since there hasn't been a clear answer on that yet...

[moparzrule]

No harm is setting a cam on it's side. Just make sure it's in sealed bag with oil in it or something that won't let it rust. Also make sure nothing nicks the cam lobes either.

[altered7151]

You should be fine storing a cam on its side, I've been in the comp cams warehouse and they have all their cams in boxes laying on their sides.