Crankshaft Storage
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: South West MO
Crankshaft Storage
I have a good crankshaft I just removed from a engine and wonder how to best protect it from rust. I will probably use it sometime in the future but it may be a couple years or more. Would just greasing up the journals work? Any kind of grease? Should it be covered or placed in a big plastice bag?
Thanks
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Elyria, Ohio
Spray with white lithium grease or coat liberally with bearing or chassis greases; wrap in cloth and keep up off floor (dry place). Plastic not good; it will trap water condensation during seasonal temp changes.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Iowa
I like to use marine wheel bearing grease. It's got the most water and rust resistance. If you're really paranoid you can use a grease gun and fill the oil passages with grease. Stand it up on end to prevent bending. I like to stand it up on some greasy cardboard. Then, place a bag on top of it to keep the dust off. Leave the bottom of the bag open. Should be ready to sit.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Effingham,IL USA
ive always heard to store a crank on end to keep it from bending. how exactly will it bend when its laying on its side? its being suported more or less evenly by lots ofcounterweights if u set it right. i can see maybe if it was on concete and not sittin right and the middle counterweight is the one holding up 1 side- but if its on cardboard on a wooden shelf layin down suported as evenly as it will lay down how will it bend? im not sayin set it down on the concrete floor just evenly support it.
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From: South West MO
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Originally Posted by oldfordtrucksrule
ive always heard to store a crank on end to keep it from bending. how exactly will it bend when its laying on its side? its being suported more or less evenly by lots ofcounterweights if u set it right. i can see maybe if it was on concete and not sittin right and the middle counterweight is the one holding up 1 side- but if its on cardboard on a wooden shelf layin down suported as evenly as it will lay down how will it bend? im not sayin set it down on the concrete floor just evenly support it.
Fleet Owner
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From: Brentwood,CA
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Posting Guru
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From: Northern California
humm, the storage on end is an interesting one. I never really thought about it. It seems a shop would store them that way because they would take up less shelf space, but bending because they are layed down? Does anyone know if this is a fact or just an urban legend ?
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: South West MO
Originally Posted by 94F150-408
humm, the storage on end is an interesting one. I never really thought about it. It seems a shop would store them that way because they would take up less shelf space, but bending because they are layed down? Does anyone know if this is a fact or just an urban legend ?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Northern California
I would guess we are correct on the reasons for storing them in this manner weevil, I just have sincere doubts that they are going to "bend" from just sitting there. If anyone can further enlighten the group on this, it would be of interest to many.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Concord, NC
When the crank is in the engine, the main bearings support the crank along the centerline of the crank. When you lay a crank on its side on the floor, it is being supported by the counterweights, which don't act on the centerline of the crank. That's how I understand it, at least.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Western Canada
Cranks should always be stored on end because of being able to bend, the only way to store laying down is if it were supported the way they are shipped to performance shops and that is in styrofoam which is cut out to match counterweights and journals
