Why isnt my crankshaft being seated??

[73Dailybajabug]

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)

[Cusser]

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.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[NJ John]

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.

_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[MTT3107]

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

[viiking]

[bsairhead]

[VW_Jimbo]

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!
_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Zundfolge1432]

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.