Topic: cleaning the crankshaft..??

[hillbilly]

I'm having one heck of a time cleaning the oil passages.

I don't know if this GUNK that's in there is the result of the submersion in water that caused the bent con-rod or what, but there was a LOT of reeeeally fine sand caked up in the oil passages in the case...I managed to get all of that out, and I'll follow with more solvent and blow it out with air tomorrow...the REAL issue is the crank.

Now, none of my journals are scored, the bearings were still in good shape...BUT. The oil holes in the crank were plugged up with this same gunk/sand combination...I'm beginning to think this thing was rescued from the bottom of a strip-mine that had filled with water...it's cleaning up pretty good except for the aforementioned crankshaft oil passages...

There are what looks like four allen headed plugs on the crank counterweights that look like they've been peened in place?

I could just go buy a crankshaft...but I'd really rather not. I was just wondering if anyone else has encountered these, or a similar situation...I don't want to go through all this on a rebuild only to have to buy all new stuff when it stops oiling due to blocked.....uhm....oiling.

how to get them out? Or maybe a better way to get the junk cleaned out without it?

[MRieck]

 The Allen head part is interesting. I have removed the staked "balls" from the couterweights and drilled/tapped for Allens. It was the only way to get the passages really clean. I Loctite the Allen set screws in place. I tis a pain and the crank needs to be balanced after doing it (though I have everything balanced anyway).You can get in there with a small bristle "Bottle" type brush too but if it's that bad I pull those Allens, put it in a parts washer and let the stream run through it for hours.

[hillbilly]

The Allen head part is interesting. I have removed the staked "balls" from the couterweights and drilled/tapped for Allens. It was the only way to get the passages really clean. I Loctite the Allen set screws in place. I tis a pain and the crank needs to be balanced after doing it (though I have everything balanced anyway).You can get in there with a small bristle "Bottle" type brush too but if it's that bad I pull those Allens, put it in a parts washer and let the stream run through it for hours.

Ahhh! so I bet someone's been in there before! I was thinking about having the entire rotating assembly balanced anyway, I just need to find someone who does it locally...

Thanks! Your reply cleared up a LOT of confusion I had