Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 1:28 pm
by Gripdana
While fitting the oil slinger and woodruff key for the prop hub I bent the slinger very slightly. I stopped and removed the key and slinger. I was able to bend the slinger back into shape. I left the prop hub in the oven and placed the crank back into the freezer. Can I re use the slinger? I also sent am email to Sonex.
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 12:51 am
by Gripdana
Sonex replied fast. They told me to put it on and put the crank into the case half to check for clearance. I put the assembly into the case and it looked good. They said they could not say if it would perform as intended and would not damage the engine if it did not rub the case. It was up to me I decided to go ahead and use it. The crank was in the freezer for 7 more hours then I heated the hub at 465 for 1.25 hours. Then I attempted to slip the hub on. I did it right next to the oven. It only went on 1/2 way. So I sent Sonex Tech Support an email about my problem. Hopefully there is a solution that will make my life easy. Has anyone else had this happen to them?
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:06 am
by stan2tew
I had to remove my prop hub & timing gear due to problem with the gear mesh with the cam gear. Sonex said to press it off. Fortunately I have access to a hydraulic press and removing it was not a issue. Care must be taken to get proper alignment and catching the parts as they separate. I think you had the problem that most ovens do not get as hot as the dial indicates. They are used for baking cakes and such. You will have to get the hub much hotter. As you slide the hub on the part in contact with the shaft is cooling so you must have plenty of latent heat built up in hub to keep it expanded until fully in place. Also the shaft is expanding by being heated. Get it HOT - work QUICKLY.
Please keep us informed about your assembly and any problems you encounter.
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:15 am
by Gripdana
I think I should have let it “bake” longer. I have a commercial restaurant oven and confirmed the temperature with a digital BBQ thermometer.
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:57 am
by kmacht
You will have to press it off. I had the same thing happen on mine but mine was stuck a little more than 1/4 of the way down. I made the mistake of installing the gear and not re-freezing the crank before installing the hub. The heat from the gear warmed the crank up enough that it no longer was big enough to slide on to the hub. The second time I did it the hub slid on with only finger pressure.
You will need a hydraulic press to remove it. Do not press it on the rest of the way. There are service bulletins on the aerovee specifically prohibiting that unless it is within the last 1/8" of seating. I would contact Sonex for the specifics of how to do it but for mine I supported the prop hub with some blocks on the press and had the crank hanging down between the supports so there was no pressure on it. I used a deepwell socket down the bore of the crank to push on with the press. It took surprisingly little force for it to come back off.
When you go to do it the second time, crank the oven up to 500. Also, get a oven thermometer from a kitchen store and put it in there with the crank to make sure it is getting up to temp.
Keith
#554
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:02 am
by Gripdana
Sonex said to press it off and give it another try. So today I went to a friends house to remove the hub from the crank shaft. We used a 20 ton press. We set the hub on brackets to hang the assembly. Then used a socket and 1/2" drive extension down the center hole and used it to push the crank shaft out of the prop hub. I held on to the crank like it was a baby. I did not want it to fall on the floor. I took the parts home and will get a chance to redo the prop hub after thanksgiving week.
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 10:01 am
by grevaly
Had the same problem when I did mine, on 1/2 way and stopped. once that happens your done IMO, and then the call to Sonex.
Joe N answered my call and felt it was a “not heated enough issue”. First time around I installed the gears first, rechilled the crank
heated the hub for 1 1/2 hrs in preheated 500 degree max setting kitchen oven. Joe said they do the cranks a few at a time and
they slide right on. Pressing the hub off was easy enough and the the second attemp we heated the hub upwards of 2 1/2 hrs.
Joe was right, the hub went on with ease. It was a good feeling when that sucker went on!
Lot of heat, Good luck!
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 8:41 pm
by grevaly
Had a surprise today, when I went to install the rocker arm assy’s the manual says to put the rocker arm shaft in place to
make sure the cylinder studs do not contact the rocker shaft and if they do to trim them down. Bad time to do this step as I had to layer
protection in the top of the cylinder heads to keep metal shavings out of my nice clean engine. would have been better
to mock it all up and check the clearance before final assy of the cylinders, would be much easier to have trimmed the studs then.
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 2:01 am
by Gripdana
I finally had a chance to get the prop hub on the crank shaft. I put the crank into the freezer for 2 days and baker the hub in the oven for 4 hours at 512 degrees. I got everything setup in the kitchen this evening and the hub just slipped right on. I just gave it a tap with the palm of my hand and it bottomed out on the oil slinger. I put the bolt and bushing in with an impact gun and am letting it cool until the morning so I can remove the bolt and lactate and torque the bolt.
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 2:03 am
by Gripdana
Wow I messed up the photos. Here they are.
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:17 am
by Rynoth
Just tried to do my prop hub… crank was in the freezer for 2 days and heated the hub in 525 degree oven for 2 full hours. I had the hub moved from the hot oven to the crank in about 3 seconds. Could only get the hub on halfway using wood block and a mallet. Time to find a press.
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 12:08 pm
by Gripdana
That is exactly how I did it the first time. Had the same results. The second time I put it in the oven and did chores around the house, then went out for dinner and a movie. I didn’t even need the block of wood and hammer. It just went on with a light palm hit. Everyone who said the more heat the better are right on the mark! It went on so fast my wife didn’t even know I was doing it in her kitchen (she was watching tv with the kids in the other room).
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 12:09 pm
by Rynoth
I was able to press off my hub, and upon inspection I believe I discovered the culprit. In both the Aerovee assembly video and the picture in the manual, it appears that the forward Woodruff key is to be inserted with the curved side down. However there was clearly interference between the hub and the key when inserted this way (I think they have changed the key but not updated the pics.)
I’ll insert the key curved side up this time and try it again.
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 12:15 pm
by Gripdana
Even so I would let it soak in the oven for at least 3 or more hours.
Re: Crank shaft assembly
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 12:34 pm
by grevaly
Ryan,
My engine is a 2.0 version and I am the second owner, and bought the engine unassembled.
In my application the curved rounded edge of the key faced up toward the prop hub if you looked
at the keyway in the hub it was not a square cut but rounded as well to mate to the key. if you look
into the hub keyway that should help confirm the oriontation of the key.
When mine went on and stuck I dont think I was hot enough and I had trouble aligning the keyway.
Dana is right the longer you heat the more insurance you will have to work with.