Proper crankshaft storage

F

Fordestes

Well-known member
I would like all to help settle an argument, what is the proper way to store crankshafts for a long period of time, I went to a sale with a friend and there were some crankshafts left stored what looked like for a very long time laying down with no support blocks ,I didn't bid because I felt they were most likely warped, my friend seemed to dis agree, I store my merc. and ford cranks on a wooden rack I made so they wont get knocked over, they are standing up.
all the years I worked as a master diesel mechanic we stored the cranks on a rack that held them by the rear flywheel flange.
If he see's the answer from other sources maybe he will believe what I am
telling him is the correct way as to avoid warping.
Thanks !
Fellow Fordbarners
D.Estes.
 
either way is correct, but laying in a cradle supported by the 3 main bearing journals is by far the safest, which is the way i store mine, a droped crank is almost all ways a junk crank, and its far more easier to protect the crank from dust ,dirt, metal shavings from doing other work, and it keeps condinsation off the crank when covered in a cradle
 
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D Estes , You're absolutely right! But there are a lot of backyard engineers & experts on these forums that will disagree.
I worked as a diesel mechanic for 15 years & then taught Diesel Mechanics for another 25 years.
We installed a crankshaft that had been stored laying on the floor for a while. When we torqued the mains down you couldn't turn it. Let it set for 4 or 5 days and it turned freely. That made a believer out of me.
The longer the crank the worse the problem.
Hope this helps, Bill Brock
 
Most large engine reman shops hang them by the flywheel flange and rotate their inventoty. I sold eng parts for 25 years and have been in many large per's. they all pretty much do the same thing. It works you don't have to re invent the wheel.But if you like another way that works then carry on.

Ronnie
 
When we were building race car engs we stored them standing up, I still have two standing in the A/C closet in the work shop I have them where I can get to them &
spray the throws & mains with lube
 
I stand them up too. My brother dropped a crank out of the familiy 51 Merc while cleaning for overhaul. It was a hard enough fall to break the crank pulley. I though for sure it was warped. Took it to the machine shop to grind it undersize and the machinist said it was staight during set up checks prior to grinding. You just never know. Don't fergit to put plenty of corrosion inibitor on there either. I've seen a lot more cranks rendered useless from corrosion than warpage.
 
Just go to the nearest machine shop......I'll bet you will see all the cranks standing on end, or hanging from one end.......might be something to that....
 
I have mine standing up because everyone else does it. :)

Bbrocksr had an actual experience with a warped cank but most of what I hear is speculation. I would buy a crank that was laying down but would want a discounted price from the seller since it is warped because of what I am told about storing cranks. ;)

Neal
 
they stand them up because they dont want to spend the money or the time to put them in wooden cradles, what would you rather have done to your crank, stand it up and take a chance of having it hit and knocked over or have it protected in a cradle? i like mine in a wooden cradel with a top on it cant get any safer than that, but each to his own method of storage
 
I would buy a bent crank in an instant if that was all that was wrong with it....Cranks will take on a "set" even hanging on a rack.
I have probably straightened 5 or 6 thousand in my day.
 
hotrodart said:
Just go to the nearest machine shop......I'll bet you will see all the cranks standing on end, or hanging from one end.......might be something to that....
Click to expand...

One can fit more cranks in X amount of floor space if they're vertical rather than horizontal. ;)
 
I stand them up on end BUT out here in California, we have to be sure they are situated so they can not fall over in an EARTHQUAKE
 
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