Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

So I'm cleaning my crank and prepping it for reassembly when I discover something that at first glance looks like rust stains or the like, but at closer inspection look like foreign bodies stuck to the journal. They seem to be stuck on there pretty good. I tried removing them first with a soft cloth, then with my fingernail. Some of it seems to have come off by now. Next step would be something made of plastic I guess. But if it doesn't come off after that, how should I proceed? I don't wanna nick or scratch the journal. Should I perhaps try to polish it off somehow?

Attachment 192772Attachment 192773

Also, I found this tiny nick in the same journal. It doesn't seem to be protruding outwards. Is it something to worry about?

Attachment 192774

Thanks

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

In the pictures that looks more like rust. I'd have that crank ground or replaced.

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

Really, that bad huh? Well, a new crank is out of the question. Trans Atlantic shipping alone will probably exceed the cost of the crank, and then there's the ridiculous taxation laws here that adds 25% on all imported merchandise worth more than circa $30 (except for books intended for personal use, for some reason). Anyways, I don't want to foil my rebuild by ignoring something that could potentially be harmful, but machining is also ridiculously expensive where I live. But, I guess what must be done must be done. Just tell me, how much would something like this cost in the U.S? I need to know so that I can look my machinist in the eye as I hand him my crank and ask him if he knows how much cheaper it is to pack the crank in a suitcase, fly to the U.S. get it ground there and then bring it back here.
And I was so looking forward to assembling my short block tomorrow.

Well, thanks anyways.

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

Looks like "metal transfer" from either the old bearings or foreign debris (and I don't mean foreign like "from the United States". I mean foreign like dirt and metal shavings that made it past the oil filter). Stuff gets in there and then friction kinda "welds" it to the crank journal.

If you get it off, you'll still usually have a little divot in the journal, like that last picture.

I DO recommend you get it off, by the way. Something plastic would be a good idea to work at it. If this is a low-buck mild performance effort, run it like that. Little divots don't make much difference- I've run stuff that looks like that more than I care to admit. For high performance or racing, though, forget it. You don't run stuff like that.

Still, a trip to the machine shop is probably the best course of action. You might find the crank needs to be turned down anyway, even if not necessarily becuase of those obvious issues.

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

That's rust no doubt about it. You can try polishing the journals to see what you end up with first

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

Not to be argumentative, but how do you figure that second picture is rust? Maybe some of the more minor blemishes are rust, but if that clump in the second picture is rust I'll pay to have him put it in an envelop and mail it to me after he scrapes it off the crank. When I receive it, I will take it out of the envelope, eat it, and post the video of me doing so on YouTube by way of apology for being so wrong.

What I'm saying is, yes, there may be a little bit of surface rust in a few spots but those bigger chunks are not rust- they're crud that go into the bearing journal and made a home for themselves.

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

Just needs to be polished before use.
Many machine shops will do it pretty cheap.

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

Start saving room for it because you're gonna be eating it. rust has a much higher volume than the originating mass of steel, it builds-up so to speak, ever wonder why rust under paint forms blisters?

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

Sorry, I couldn't gather up what ever it was that came off :lol:. But it did come off at least. Took some chrome polishing medium and gently rubbed it with my finger for about ten minutes. There is a minor indentation where it used to be thou, but I guess thats better than a protruding object. Here, Ill show ya:

Attachment 192788

I know I probably should have taken it to the machine shop for a total reground, but that would eat up the rest of my budget. But as Damon said: "If this is a low-buck mild performance effort, run it like that. Little divots don't make much difference." Which is exactly what it is. Low buck. Or at least as low as my food supply will allow me :D.

Thank you

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

I'd still take that in and have it polished and inspected. The last time i had a crank polished it was like $20.

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

God I wish I was living in the states. Last time I called my machine shop the quoted me $1000 for a valve job and a crank polish. Now I'm guessing that the majority of that would be the valve job, but it's still a lot more than $20 for polishing.

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

You can polish crank journals yourself with crocus cloth, a little ATF and a shoelace.

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

Thank goodness! Consider it done;)

Re: Foreign bodies on crank journal. Best way to remove?
 

I've used Emery Cloth as well, very fine grade. It worked ok.