Just a Sparky
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- May 2, 2020
- Location
- Minnesota
I got the worst possible news earlier today from the crankshaft shop grinding my compressor crank. Magnafluxing revealed a crack in the flywheel-side bearing seat, about half an inch outboard of the bearing race itself.
Is there any way to save and use this crankshaft? These haven't been made since probably the 1950s and there aren't many of them around. Aside from this one defect the compressor is ready to run and probably has several decades of life left in it. I've invested a lot of time, money and energy getting it this far.
Would it be worth attempting a surface repair by undercutting the affected area and building it back up with weld? Or would I be better served by cutting off the affected region and drilling + tapping the stubbed crank for a new undercut shaft extension which can be threaded and then welded in place? I don't know if this crank is cast or forged.
I can get a photograph later, but in lieu of that, here's a drawing - approximate location of the crack in dotted red:
Is there any way to save and use this crankshaft? These haven't been made since probably the 1950s and there aren't many of them around. Aside from this one defect the compressor is ready to run and probably has several decades of life left in it. I've invested a lot of time, money and energy getting it this far.
Would it be worth attempting a surface repair by undercutting the affected area and building it back up with weld? Or would I be better served by cutting off the affected region and drilling + tapping the stubbed crank for a new undercut shaft extension which can be threaded and then welded in place? I don't know if this crank is cast or forged.
I can get a photograph later, but in lieu of that, here's a drawing - approximate location of the crack in dotted red: