Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 18:16:36 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@optonline.net>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@optonline.net>
Subject: Re: How to get top half of main bearing out? (AARRGH!!)
In-Reply-To: <p04310102b725bb135011@[142.103.139.103]>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Place a cotter pin in the oiling hole of the crankshaft, then turn the crank
to take the bearing out.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Tobin Copley
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 1:25 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: How to get top half of main bearing out? (AARRGH!!)
Hi,
I'm trying to replace the main and rod bearings in my 1.6L
diesel-powered Vanagon. The engine is in the car, oil pan off, oil
pump out.
I have been able to pull the old rod bearings, since I can lift the
piston up slightly to sneak the upper half of the bearing out and
around the crankshaft.
The main bearings are proving to be a bit of a problem, though.
On removing the main bearing cap, I can see either end of the upper
half of the bearing. I can push on the end of the bearing (the end
without the tab, of course), and with gentle to moderate tapping, the
bearing shell will rotate around, on its way out. After the shell
has rotated maybe 20 degrees, though, the thin blade I'm using to
push the bearing can't make the curve around anymore--the blade
touches the crankshaft on one side, and the tip of the blade hits the
outside curve on the block. I can't "pull" the bearing out the other
side yet, as there is nothing to gain a purchase on, and it's still
in there pretty firmly. There's maybe 3/4" of the bearing--perhaps
1/4 of the piece-- showing now.
So what's the trick? I'm petrified of scratching the crankshaft. I
don't even want to touch the thing, let alone risk smacking a blade
against it, or risk a screwdriver slipping and gouging it. How can I
persuade the bearing half out? Is there a tool available for this,
or one I jury-rig up?
Oh, this is the first bearing I've tried on this engine. I haven't
touched the other main bearings, nor even loosened the caps for them.
Would backing off the other caps help? I was planning on doing the
bearings one at a time, but would doing them all simultaneously be a
better approach?
In case you can't tell, this is my first time working on engine
internals. I may be being overly cautious, but my over-riding
concern is not to screw anything up.
Thanks in advance for any help on this.
T.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tobin Copley Bowen Island, BC, Canada 49deg 23'N-123deg 19'W
'82 Westfalia 1.6L NA diesel ("Stinky")
'97 son Russell =============
'99 daughter Margaret /_| |_L| |__|:| clatter
SPEED KILLS! {. .| clatter!
Drive a Vanagon diesel ~-()-==----()-~
