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Wed Jun 11, 2025 9:54 pm

I am reusing the original crankshaft and bearing as well as the case halves and for some reason I can not get the crankshaft to seat. I have been trying to turn the bearings and everything for hours but no dice please help

(When I seat the crankshaft pulley and the other bearing in, the flywheel side bearing gets dislodged and vice versa)

Thu Jun 12, 2025 6:24 am

Triple check that the main bearing holes are REALLY seated on the dowel pins. And for the full-circle bearings make Sharpie marks opposite the holes in the bearings, to help lining those up.

Thu Jun 12, 2025 6:28 am

Play with the little bearing near the pulley. It’s a pain to get it seat. It can align but not seat all the way. This pic is an extreme scenario.

Thu Jun 12, 2025 8:59 am

This may sound silly, but are you sure your front bearing ( at crankshaft pulley) is installed in the correct orientation ?

Thu Jun 12, 2025 5:46 pm

Cusser wrote: Triple check that the main bearing holes are REALLY seated on the dowel pins. And for the full-circle bearings make Sharpie marks opposite the holes in the bearings, to help lining those up.

Yes. Sometimes there is debris in the hole or the dowel pin is damaged or protruding too far out not allowing that bearing to completely drop down on to the pin. Check every pin and bearing hole.

Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:03 pm

73Dailybajabug wrote: I am reusing the original crankshaft and bearing as well as the case halves and for some reason I can not get the crankshaft to seat. I have been trying to turn the bearings and everything for hours but no dice please help

(When I seat the crankshaft pulley and the other bearing in, the flywheel side bearing gets dislodged and vice versa) With the cam installed?

Thu Jun 12, 2025 10:08 pm

Take the bearing off the crankshaft.

Set them into the case, and be sure they are properly installed. Correct orientation and whatever else.

THEN! Take a black Sharpie and draw a line on the bearing shell at the case line on both sides. Then draw a line over the top from one to the other side. THEN draw an arrow that points to the FRONT of the engine (Flywheel), at the very top of the bearing shell!

Now, install the bearings, lubed up, onto the crankshaft, again. Be sure to set the bearings into place, being sure that your marker lines all line up with the case AND THAT THEY INTETACT WITH THE DOWEL PINS!

Crankshaft set!

Good luck!

Fri Jun 13, 2025 8:06 am

I’ve mentioned this before but it’s not found in any manual, it’s common sense but not common knowledge. When you do all the steps and lay the crank into left case half confirm it’s all the way seated take the other half of #3 bearing and lay it on the crank where it would normally go. It should fit without rocking. Might be slightly raised but you can tap lightly with a rawhide mallet on the cheeks of the crank. Check it again. If you visualize how this works and pull it off you’ll never crush another bearing.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=60

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=80

Somewhere around Page 4 and 5 of this epic you see lining up bearings. Hope this helps.