Special Tools for Crankshafts

One of the components that mechanics usually don't dare to tackle without experience. But if you have a manual and work carefully, there is no need to shy away from it. This is because crankshafts on Harley-Davidson motorcycles can be dismantled, i.e. until the turn of the millennium. After that cylindrical crankpins were introduced which you should have special presses for. But all the older ones, the ones with the tapered crankpin ends with a fine thread, may be taken apart in a workshop that is equipped with a few special tools, individual parts may be replaced, flywheels balanced, reassembled and finally squared and trued.

The crankshafts are assembled with very high torques, and solidly manufactured sockets are required for assembly and disassembly. We like to use the ones from Jims. To prevent the crankshaft from twisting, you don't simply clamp it in a vice, but use special supports. An S&S precision balance is used for precise balancing and to determine the correct balancing weight. This is accurate to 0.1 g. A centering jack is required to determine the runout of the crankshaft journals. The finished shaft can be finally aligned with a heavy copper hammer and spreading wedges. Before installation, the tapered roller bearings are quickly fitted with special drivers.