[Vwdiesel] Crank... in a bind

[Martin K]

Thanks for the helpful replies.
Maybe it is relevant to mention that the situation with the crank in a
bind was complicated somewhat by having two blocks and all the
associated paraphernalia in various places. Caps and shells had been
placed in cups marked 1 to 5. Some sort of order existed but that was
one year ago.
Though, I was able to easily identify each set of caps and shells.
I was able to get one crank turning smoothly following your method.
Optimism soared,

With the rebored block, I can gradually torque the bolts to about 40nm
before the crank binds tight. The binding appears to  affect each
bearing equally. Loosening each bolt to 20 nm and a bit of a manual
crank loosens it up but no
matter what way the retightening goes, it binds tight. To loosen the
crank all 5 caps have to be loosened.

Using the parts from the unbound block
I swapped over the bearings ,bearings and caps, crank, crank with
bearings, crank with bearings and caps.
Still the same result.
The permutations would be infinite if I was to move the caps around the
block at least more than the number of small cuts on my hands that I
have accumulated.
Each set of  shells have identical markings
To be sure of mating a shell back into its old resting place it would
have been helpfull if the back of the shells had been stamped with
differring numbers that would make a mirror impression on the block and
the shell.  Say 1-5.

I might have to break with tradition here and fork out for a set of main
bearing caps.

Martin

> Have no fear the Misers here...
>
> Unless youre doing something drastically wrong its probably only one shell
> binding.
>
> Loosen one shell at a time and turn the crank until you find the rogue one.
>
> Remove it inspect it and return it. As you retighten towards spec do it in
> several stages whilst rotating crank between stages until spec reached. If
> problem resurfaces as tightening increased; then rotating under partial
> tightening will either smooth off aberation or at the very least leave an
> observable trace on the soft shell. Use a fine abrasive like 'Vim' to free it.
> Remove clean then reasemble
>
> Mark(The Miser)UK