TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:23 pm

I have three stock 1600 cranks in front of me. They all have the VW stamp on them. I just got them back from the machine shop for grinding and/or polishing.

Crank1 = .020
Crank2 = .030
Crank3 = Std (polished)

Cranks1/2 came off various motors throughout the years - no mis-use, just old.

Crank3 came out of the '70 Ghia that is probably the original crank.

Here's the question:

The crank gear journals on Crank1/2 are "dull".

The same journals on the original crank (Crank3) look quite polished. I pulled the gears off...

I have bought cranks before where these journals are dull. I'm wondering more why that journal would be shiny, after all it is a press fit (kinda) for the gears.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:54 pm

Pulling the gears back off the crank will dull the surface, that's normal to see. If your concerned about the integrity of the journal dimension measure them with a mic and compare notes to your good crank.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:02 pm

Hi -

I pulled the gears from each crank - personally.

I would figure that the "press on gear" journal on the crank would be "dull" because of the press fit. This holds true of two of the three.

Which is why I'm asking why I have a crank (the one I think is oringinal) that has a *really* shiny journal. This crank is the one that I consider "stock" from the PO, and the PPO..... you know - the original motor on the Ghia...

Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:08 pm

Well I would say that's as close to a NOS crank as you would get. You most likely where the first person to pull a gear back off of it. I know what you mean when you say shiny, I too have seen this many time on the used stock cranks that are in perfect shape.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:18 pm

Alright !! Most of my stuff doesn't deal with the original stuff, such as that.

Am I correct that when I have ordered cranks from CB/AC.net, etc.. that those journals probably were not shiny, but I never compared them against this "stock" crank?

I mean, because of the press fit, I wouldn't expect a shiny journal... hey - but who am I to say..

Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:18 pm

When I have a crank reground they bead blast it first then grind the journals. This bead blasting would be the reason for the dull gear journal.
The standard crank was never ground or blasted.