Crankshaft condition

[salnaes]

I’m interested in views on my crankshaft. It looks like this:
and this

and this

and this

and finally this

[salnaes]

And a couple of pics more

and

[frankr]

Looks good, with bit of concern over the top bearing.  I’d suggest inspecting the top bearing for badly discolored or damaged rollers (or just replace it).  Book says replace it if badly discolored, but moderate discoloration is not cause for rejection.  Be sure to check out the oiling system to the top bearing.

[salnaes]

Thank you, Frank. I’m a little too late asking this, because I’ve already installed everything and totally rebuilt my outboard (Evinrude 18 1960).  It’s already running. You confirmed my own judgement concerning the top bearing.

I should have asked long before, but you know, sometimes we make mistakes. I will have this issue in my mind and listen for any bad sounds back there. That’s all I can do now.

I have re-built my 18 horse totally and it’s very nice now, technically. I believe oiling system for the top bearing is good. I had everything disassembled and inspected, and I was here on this forum before asking advice on top bearing. Then I learned a lesson from several experienced folks here, so I hope I got it right, talking about oiling system. But I forgot to show my crank shaft back then.

[billw]

The only thing I might have been concerned about would be the area where to top oil seal rides. It seems kind of pitted. I’d have been a little concerned about an oil leak in that area, even with a new seal. Anyway, it’s water under the bridge now, and I am glad it runs well for you!

Long live American manufacturing!

[salnaes]

Thank you Bill. I will keep an eye on the armaturplate to see if there will be oil coming up into the ignition parts. It was not very much oil there when I disassembled the magneto and the armaturplate a year ago. I don’t think anyone has removed the flywheel in many years. The parts underneath looked really nasty when I removed the flywheel.

Now it’s nice and clean and all parts are new. So it might be a simple task to investigate the armaturplate after some hours of use to see if parts are oily.

Yes, I have installed new seals in both ends of the crankshaft. But I agree with you about pitting and with Frank about bluish color. It’s a bit scary, but I have to live with it now. My 18 horse is totally re-stored and running.

But thanks again to you both for commenting on this issue.

Frank advice me to check out the oiling system to the top bearing. I just did put everything together. What should I look for?

[frankr]

The 18hps are pretty foolproof.  The copper tube carries oil from the lower bearing to the upper.  That and the passages drilled in the crankcase/manifold.  I assume you cleaned and blew out everything while apart.  I think you can relax and go fishing.

[fleetwin]

billw wrote:

The only thing I might have been concerned about would be the area where to top oil seal rides. It seems kind of pitted. I’d have been a little concerned about an oil leak in that area, even with a new seal. Anyway, it’s water under the bridge now, and I am glad it runs well for you!

I see this also..  But, it is hard to know if the upper seal actually rides there or not.  Now looking at one of your other pictures showing the top of the crank, and the upper bearing sitting along side of it…..  I see an oring on that bearing…  Perhaps that is the lower bearing.

Members have shown how to pressurize the crankcase slightly and look for leaks in this area.  But, the deceiving thing about this test on this engine is that you will see leakage between the upper bearing case and the crankcase because no oring is used.  So, it can be very tricky to determine if the leak is coming through the seal lip/crank, or the bearing case/crankcase.

The only other possibility is to use one of those tools to remove the upper bearing without pulling the powerhead apart.  Before removing it, make a good note of where it sits in the bearing case.  There is a chance that you could install the seal just a little bit lower, or perhaps higher in the bearing case so that it is not rubbing on the pitted portion of the crank.

[salnaes]

Thank you for the advice. Today I came upon two Johnson FD21R for sale here in Norway. I checked marineengine.com and found that my 1960 Fastwin 18HP nr 15032 has exact same partnumber on the Crankshaft as the FD21 year 1967. So I consider purchasing those two Johnson. Price 8 bucks. Then I can take those crankshafts out and check if one of them is in good condition. If so, I will possibly manage an exchange in my Fastwin.

[dave-bernard]

Or build a second power head.

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