I'm trying to assemble my 225 long rod motor, and gotten to the point of installing the timing gear set, but i can't figure out how to get the crank gear on without hitting it with a hammer (no i haven't done that). Any ideas? how is this done?

Nick

I always use a hammer and a brass drift to gently tap it on.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

but isn't that really bad for the thrust bearing?

I pressed mine on with a 3/4"-NF bolt (somebody correct me if I am recalling the wrong size of bolt). You can either do it with a 2" long bolt and lots of washers or a number of progressively shorter bolts.

Make sure the crank's internal thread is fairly clean before you start. Position the damper on the crank's snout and tighten up the bolt. When the bolt reaches the end of its travel, add a few more washers and start again or change to the next shorter bolt. Repeat until the damper is fully seated.

Frank

I use a chunk of allthread, some thick washers, and a nut.

I'm kind of surprised everyone's resorting to violence to get the crank gear on.

Put it in a 400°F oven for 30 minutes. While it's heating up, chill the crank nose with whatever you have available (bag of ice is OK, bag of dry ice is much better, upside-down "canned air" duster works but you'll have to scrape the frost off the crank nose)

Using gloves (duh), carry the crank gear directly out of the oven into the shop; it'll go right on. I've seen people pick up $5 toaster ovens at secondhand stores for garage use.

Hey SlantsixDan do you put any cajun spices on the pulley before it goes in the oven

Tapping the gear on will not damage anything. If you have to wail on it something is wrong.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

If you find the tapping is more than you can stand , a piece of wood between the mains and a crank throw can prevent thrust bearing damage. I agree with Dennis on the light tap/brass drift method. I am lucky enough to have a nice piece of brass pipe for just such endeavours. Of course one needs to use a plastic hammer on the brass pipe....

Proper use of the brass pipe is the first step toward preventing violence.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

I'd tell you my secret blend of 11 herbs 'n' spices, but then I'd have to shoot you. It's a family secret passed down through the generations.

I ended up using my harmonic balancer puller/installer to push the harmonic balancer on, which pushed the gear on, then just took the harmonic balancer off. seemed to work pretty good.

Nick