What planet do these VW mechanics/Engineers/Machinists come from.

I ordered a standard set of main bearings for an engine.
They turn up, low and behold, standard doesnt mean standard. Standard journal size but what size case.

So I order the replacement bearings, 1mm ext and std journal.

The bearings turn up, All excited i start a dummy up of the engine and bingo, you dont need 2 measurements, you need three, the case thickness for the thrust bearing.

If you machine the case to 1mm oversize, why on earth would you then machine the thrust surface and make that different.

Just part of the joys of dealing with 40+year old machinery that's been in the hands of god only knows how many "mechanics"

Hardly the engines fault.

Oh I should add,

So now I need, 1mm oversize case, standard journal and .5mm oversize thrust.

Hmmm, I wonder if anyone has those bearings in stock. Nope, So now I have to grab another set of bearings, 1mm oversize case .25 oversize journal and 1mm thrust.

Now machine down the thrust surface and then machine out the bearing journal diameter

Gee, im going to make money on this job lol

Yeah it's a pita...i went through similar ages ago too...

No.1 main bearing has thrust faces on it to control crankshaft end float (and then the 3 shims in the right combo determine final end float).

I think you will also have to have the new bearing machined to fit the case...they don't just drop in unfortunately.

just because you're clueless in rebuilding a VW motor, doesn't mean they are crap

You don't know the history of the engine.....

anything could have been done to it....

VW engines are probably the most common engine to be overhauled or worked on by clueless people....

even on engines totally worn out....

LEE

Hhahah

Well done Craig ya wanker

Your'e just dumb! Check out your previous thread. I told you what you needed!

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=88479#pid824410 

The list of things to check is endless, even if you are using all new parts.
I spent nearly all of the eighties working as an VW engine builder and even I learnt something new each day.

Listen. When you ask for help. Listen. Doh

Quote:

Originally posted by Craig Torrens just because you're clueless in rebuilding a VW motor, doesn't mean they are crap

Sorry your having trouble with our little VW engne.......guess the 'how to' thread is out of the question.. Sorry Clinker, couldn't resist.

As Craig said, unless you have an extremely well equipped machine shop, I wouldn't recommend machining any bearing on the journal diameter. Get the correct bearings.

It's cases like this where a GOOD shop makes the difference.

Quote:

Originally posted by matberry It's cases like this where a GOOD shop makes the difference.

It is amazing that people make comments about ones mech eng skills and equipment when they have no idea what a person does for a living and what he has been doing for 20 years. For your info, I work in a shop that has everything needed not only to build engines but to make all the components for engines and cars. I would bet that its a hell of a lot better equipment that you guys have ever seen. Its amazing, I spend my days building $75,000 engines that have tolerances that are a heck of a lot tighter than you guys would ever think about.

Oh and if I sit the bearing in one of our HAAS cnc lathes, I think I can get the runout as good as factory or if not better, after all, our machines go to the 5th digit.

Also Dog, dont call me a dumbarse, I did read your post and then spent the next day phoning around australia for a set of bearings. Guess what, I couldnt find a set a set of bearings. Boris had a set with the thick thurst face but they where a 1.5mm oversize. Oh but I as a dumarse I should have realised that 1.5 over bearings will be a little sloppy in a 1mm over case.

Sloppy or is that tight???

You obviously do have the equipment available to you to fix the problem.

Ok tight

Ps, for your info, the bearing is already machined out, Run out on the dial indicator was 0.0002. So i think that will be good enough. Also these bearings are not coated

What bearings aren't coated? as in brand??

mahle and KS (euromax )

and they don't have the babbitt metal coating??? They normally do.

I think this is a case of 'stick to what you know'. I build and repair Honda motors and gearboxes for a living, but would never pretend to be an expert with VW engines and gearboxes

well there ya go Craig

you know everything hey

Second set of bearings i ordered was 1 mm oversize and std and 1 mm oversize. i recieved 1mm/std/.5mm

Now for your info, Bearings do not have a lead/babbit coating. The one piece bearings are all solid alloy. Only the two piece centre bearing is coated. If you think Im wrong, go grab any of ya one piece bearings and scratch em to see if they are coated.

Hey Clunker,

I only built one type of engine, VW. They weren't all fully reconditioned, most were rebuilds sold as secondhand motors. In the eighties, if you drove a VW you would have been pidgeon holed as a "tight arse". I wouldn't mind a dollar for every owner who told me they bought a VW because they're supposed to go forever, and then blame me because they never had it serviced, or even checked the oil, and the engine stopped working. Hence, if parts were within acceptable tolerences, I would rebuild with new bearings, rings, exhaust valves, rear main seals and gaskets etc.
Fancey tools no matter how expensive, are a waste of money in the wrong hands. Any VW mechanic that has built enough engines doesnt even need a torque wrench, because it's all in the hands, you get to know what things should feel like! I could adjust tappets without a feeler gauge, because you can after time feel and hear by rocking the tappet what it should sound like. Imagine, a valve that has been pounded to a concave on the end. Using a feeler guage that tappet is always going to be too loose and noisey, unless you adjust it by feel. I'm not saying I built engines this way, but when you in the middle of the simpson desert and you drop a valve and every 4x4 driver is questioning you sanity, you would be amazed at what some people can do with a hammer (or axe) Screw driver (forged tent peg) and a shifting spanner.
As I said in the previous thread, you learn something new everyday, that is unless your ego is telling you, you know it all ready!

Happy to send you my contact # if you need assistance.

Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by grumble Quote: Originally posted by Craig Torrens just because you're clueless in rebuilding a VW motor, doesn't mean they are crap If you don't understand the set up send the case and crank to a specialist who will set the bottom end up for you and then it is only a matter of assembling it. You nwill be so far in front you won't believe it.good luck!