Valve Clearances, Timing Chain etc. and Piston work

[Kenny]

Those crank journals and shells look really good to me.

[devlin]

Thanks Kenny. How's the Jaffa going?

[Kenny]

Jaffa good one its much nicer to ride now. I call it the chinook

[Smithers]

Hi Devlin, pictures can be deceiving but your crank journals look OK. I'd be surprised if if you had much in the way of measurable wear (0.005mm? max). They are keepers I'd say..... the crank shells show patches of bronze where the tin (I assumed that is what it was when I examined my TRX crank shells) has worn through to the bronze base material, but that doesnt necessarily indicate real wear either. Simply high points on the shell surface due to distortion associated with mildly incorrect bolt torque, normal manufacturing imperfections of the bearing tunnels, the effects of heat on engine casting expansion, etc. Im pretty sure , if you used "plasti guage" to measure your journal/shell clearances they would be within spec (judging by your pictures). The thing to be fussy with, when reassembling your engine, is to get your bolt torque settings absolutely correct, especially the main bolts that run past the crank bearings. Too greater torque will decrease your crank bearing clearances..... but it's no big deal, just go by what the manual says and use a decent torque wrench..... not the $10.00 dollar petrol station jobbies that I have since thown out in favour of one with integrity.

[devlin]

Thanks Smithers. I have my old man coming up soon and asked him to bring his ridiculously expensive torque wrenches with him 6 to 30 Nm and 20 to infinity and beyond Nm. Just need to get a gasket kit now and do the reassembly. Cheers.