Engine Builder Shop Solutions: March 2013
Safe Valve Spring Break-In Most engine builders are well aware of the fact that high performance valve springs should be compressed to coil bind through several cycles before being installed. The problem with this procedure is that it can be time consuming, costly and even dangerous. It is time consuming if each spring is compressed
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: February 2013
5 Tips For a Manual Milling Machine Editor’s Note: A manual milling machine is typically at the heart of every machine shop. In the following, Jim Kovach gives some useful tips on how to get the most from your mill. 1. Always use a high-quality machinist’s square on the mill. You will be surprised how
Engine Builder Shop Solutions: January 2013
Detonation vs. Pre-Ignition (Editors Note: the following is in response to Greg Goss’s entry in the August 2012 issue) A sharp point or edge that can glow in a combustion chamber or on a piston top does not cause detonation. Mr. Goss inadvertently was referring to pre-ignition. Detonation and pre-ignition are two distinctly different terms and
The Best of Engine Builder Shop Solutions Presented by Engine Pro
We’ve narrowed the field to the top 20 Shop Solutions, and now we need your help selecting the Top 5. All you need to do is read the submissions listed below, pick you favorite and click through to vote, it’s that simple! The best part? By voting, you get a chance to win one of
Moveable Multi-Use Shop Hoist (#2)
Interlocking wheels are mounted to the opposite corners of the A-frame keeping the hoist square and on a path parallel to the wall. The frame is welded using ‘I’ beam angle-iron, and can lift up to 2,000 pounds. Will Schaller Ag & Industrial Engine Machine Norfolk, NE
Removing Crankshaft Pilot Bearings (#3)
Soak the paper in water and stuff it into the hole, and then drive it in with a bolt or other tight fitting tool. Keep cramming in more wet toilet paper until the bearing pops out. In my experience, this method is much quicker than using bearing removal tools and is way cleaner than
Removing Crankshaft Pilot Bearings Revisited (#4)
When removing a crankshaft pilot bearing, the easiest way is to use modeling clay or Play-Doh. Pack the clay into the hole first by hand, and then hammer it in with a tight fitting bolt or blunt chisel. It doesn’t take much force to make the bearing pop out. There is no mess, and the
Debunking the 10 X 10 Crankshaft Myth for Customers (#5)
First of all, in normal use or even high performance use, a used crankshaft will not “clean up” to standard specifications and will usually have to be ground to .010? undersize. The crankshaft has then remained 98+ percent as strong as new. The problem arises when “spinning” or “hammering” (knocking) a bearing. The crank will
Avoiding Flat Cam Syndrome (#6)
Along with the use of assembly lubes, break-in oils with ZDDP (Zinc Dialkyl Dithiosphate), and a lifter bore grooving tool our shop does this; on all flat tappet cam engines our shop has added one step before final assembly. With the block in a bare and clean state we’ll put in the two end cam
Got Leaks? Try Putting the Silicone Away (#7)
Many times oil leak comebacks are caused by the use of silicone or some other type of sealant coating that is used with the gasket. Newer, high-tech gaskets, in many cases today, require no sealer at all, just a clean dry surface, proper torque and good mating surfaces. Intake manifold applications may require a very
Proper Fastener Preparation (#8)
The best way to insure that threads are in optimum condition is by utilizing thread restoring tools. These tools are designed to clean and restore existing threads, not to cut new ones. Most typical tap and die sets are designed to cut new threads and their ability to remove material is detrimental to used threads.
Cold Air Tool Cooling For Machining (#9)
Cold Air Guns use a small amount of filtered compressed air and vortex tube technology to produce sub-freezing air for numerous cooling applications. Without any moving parts to wear out, the internal vortex tube converts shop compressed air into a cold air stream, producing temperatures down to as low as -30 degrees F. Visit the