Other Plastigauge?

Quinc

Buy a Superjet
Location
California
PLASTIGAUGE® is the world standard in Plastic Precision Clearance Gauges for the measurement of clearance between fitted surfaces.

Plastigauge is extremely effective for measuring the clearance of a wide variety of bearings which include automotive/machine bearings, marine drive shaft bearings, turbine housing bearings, pump and pressure system bearings, as well as shaft end-float dimensions, flatness and clearance in pipe-flanges and cylinder heads.

With a wide range of uses in industrial and commercial applications Plastigauge is particularly effective for the measurement of separation in moulding tools, and wherever it is required to determine the separation between hidden surfaces.
 
yea, 25 years ago when i built car motors......... put it in, torque the bearing caps, remove them and measure how wide it squished down , which tells how many thousandths clearance you have. too tight and you burn up bearings. too loose and you dont have enough oil pressure.
 
You maintain your stuff your way and I will maintain mine they way I've done for over 30 years. Calling BS is an ignorant statement concerning basic 2 stroke maintenance. Have you ever read the service intervals in a factory service manual for 2 stroke operation? Periodic ring replacement and general inspection increases bore life, aids in avoiding catastrophic failure and maintains performance levels that we originally pay for.
 
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Your question isn't really as absurd as the responses are making it sound, but it is a little misguided. The dimension of bearing surfaces of the cases is a critical one but it's a slight interference fit rather than a clearance so you can't check it with plastigauge. You don't see as many issues in the PWC world but in the snowmobile industry I'm constantly having to line bore cases because the cases become worn.
 

Quinc

Buy a Superjet
Location
California
Your question isn't really as absurd as the responses are making it sound, but it is a little misguided. The dimension of bearing surfaces of the cases is a critical one but it's a slight interference fit rather than a clearance so you can't check it with plastigauge. You don't see as many issues in the PWC world but in the snowmobile industry I'm constantly having to line bore cases because the cases become worn.


What is the best way to verify the cases are good and the crank is going to last? I replaced the crank because one of the bearings was worn out. It could have been basic wear but I am hoping to avoid any future problems.
 
You guys are right. Re ringing and inspection are a waste of time and money. Not sure what I was thinking bringing it up. Thanks for setting me straight about maintenance.
 
What is the best way to verify the cases are good and the crank is going to last? I replaced the crank because one of the bearings was worn out. It could have been basic wear but I am hoping to avoid any future problems.

The right way would be to torque the cases without the crank installed and use a bore gauge to verify the dimensions, but that's overkill for a do-it-yourselfer. In reality a quick visual inspection of the surfaces and feeling for any variances on the bearing saddles will give you an idea if they are good or bad. In most most cases you will feel or see a lip where the bearing sits vs. where it does't if they are bad. I attached a pic of a set of snowmobile cases. Where the pick is pointing would be where you would feel a lip if the cases were bad. You'll always see some chatter marks like you do in the picture, but you shouldn't feel any variances in the bore when running your finger across it.


e8esy3a5.jpg
 
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If you are really worried about the clearance you could put a dot of loctite bearing retainer on the surfaces and assemble. Wont hurt anything.
 
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