Reply To: 1930 Johnson V-45 Crank Bearings

[George Emmanuel]

OK,–So, there were several variations of cages and roller length. There were the bronze (Harley Davidson) type that used the short rollers, and the streel cages that used the longer rollers, both of which are available. The problem with the crank came from the short rollers and that they ran them loose. That, coupled with over-propped, made the engine lug and it beat the crank causing a groove in the center of the crankpin. The short rollers with the bronze, thick cages, didn’t allow the roller to cover the full area of the crankpin.

Bill Salisbury is the one who studied all this and had oversized (larger diameter) rollers made. He would then assemble a rod in incremental stages to the point the rod would get tight, then back of in sizes so there was free movement. Sometimes it required different sized rollers per crankpin.

Chances are, if your motor has the longer rollers, that the crank is OK. If so try increasing the roller diameter .005 and see how it feels. I can tell you all the S/V engines I’ve done needed oversized rollers, and when you got it right, that motor would be smooth! Once finished, check rpm”s and if it isn’t reaching full rpm’s, go to less prop.

I think those engines got a bad rap simply because they were over-propped from the factory for light boats and were used on heavier boats.

George