K&B 3.5 question

OVERLORD Sun Oct 01, 2017 1:43 pm

I just rebuilt a K&B 3.5 engine. When I got it, turning the crankshaft was like turning a pepper mill. I replaced both ball bearings and gave it a good clean. After assembly, the crankshaft is still a bit hard to turn. This is due to a tight fit between the crankshaft and the housing. When I heat up the housing with a torch, the crankshaft turns free.
Is this tight fit normal with K&B engines?

Ken Cook Sun Oct 01, 2017 1:58 pm

Tighten the prop really tight, whack the side of the case with a solid block of wood. Hit the case repeatedly with the block of wood offering a nice square rap on the bearing housing of the case. This will seat the bearings and all should be smooth.

OVERLORD Sun Oct 01, 2017 2:06 pm

Thanks for your quick reply Ken, I haven't tried that yet. I knocked the crankshaft both ways a bit but that didn't do anything, also, I thought heating the housing would set the bearings.

Is it better to remove the bearing housing from the engine when doing this?

fredvon4 Sun Oct 01, 2017 2:16 pm

Ken's advice is sound but 2 cautions

Some cases are easy to damage if you do not slam square! That said the K&B is pretty stout

In my case (pun) I ruined a older Fox MK VI by not hitting/slamming square on my hard wood helper trying to remove a front bearing

yes different place to slam/hit, but just the same, it is possible to damage some cases when being (Needed) Brutal

Do not do this over torque with a light old Rev up 8x8 wood prop or similar.... I did and then forgot I did

The Fox MK IV roared to life and when high rpm and the hub disintegrated.... shaft run on the bench freaked me a but as I was afraid to pinch off the fuel

Use a USED, not going to run, strong big hub like APC, prop and then consider it no good.... Well depending on what you think was deliberate over torque to help seat the bearing

I had to use a combination of over torque, heat, and smacking to seat one bugger front bearing....

Ken Cook Sun Oct 01, 2017 2:26 pm

Everything remains assembled, you don't take it apart. This seats the bearings. If you ever replaced U-joints on a driveshaft, it's the same procedure. You don't hit with enough force to do damage to the engine, your just shocking the case. I have replaced dozens of bearings and never had an issue.

OVERLORD Thu Oct 05, 2017 1:12 pm

I knocked the engine several times with the handle of a hammer all the way around and that was indeed better but still not turning smooth. I then heated the engine first and knocked it some more. That improved things but the crankshaft was still rubbing a bit on the inside of the bearing housing. I left the engine alone for a few days and this afternoon, I gave it a spin. After a few pulls, it became alive and that shook everything into place. Now the engine turns as smooth as it can be.

The head doesn't leak, the engine runs well and is a real screamer at full throttle. Due to the aluminium flywheel that gives almost no load and inertia, it was difficult to keep a reasonable idle speed with just the cable connected. I have to change my set up to keep the exhaust throttle more steady and also I have to review the cooling water bottle. I hope to make a video after the changes to add to my marine engine thread.

Ken Cook Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:09 pm

The heat more than likely did it some good. Running it like that which most of the time won't even allow you to flip it properly will not do it any good. They always run real smooth with new bearings. Ken

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