Storing crank shaft, can it warp?

[AKcharger]

I MOPAR pal whom I greatly respect said cranks can warp over time if laid on their side and the crank should be stood on end...is there any truth to this?

Thanks

[RD]

Bill,
  I just called my machine shop and they said yes, that overtime and due to the unequal pressure points on the crankshaft as it is laid on it side, it will warp the crank.  They have seen this happen with crankshafts that are on pallets and packaged in their own individual boxes.  After a while, they crank shaft would be warped up to 5 thousandths.
  My machinist said that cranks can be stored in two ways only, (1) standing on end or (2) laid on their side supported where they are supported on each main journal.

[AKcharger]

Wow...seems weird huh..I means it's a piece of steel! well thanks have to disassemble my engine for shipment and didn't want to mes anything up

Thanks!

[Rolling_Thunder]

yes they can warp...    shops usually stand them upright or sometimes hang them

[max]

i always build a wooden crate and stand them up in it, that way they are protected from getting pinged and they don't have a chance of warping.

[Runner]

hogwash,  its a myth. if it will warp then i dont want it in my motor!!

[firefighter3931]

hogwash,  its a myth. if it will warp then i dont want it in my motor!!

I agree....that's an old wives tale ! That would have to be one soft crank to warp just from sitting 

Ron

[kamkuda]

When they get delivered they are shipped on their side but with support.  I know the machine shop I use stands them all up, but I'll ask him

[Runner]

let me ask this,  if laying them down would cause them to warp then why wouldnt staning then on end cause them to bend?.   think about all the weight sitting on that bottom set of rod rod throws that are off set.     then think about the abuse a crank shaft takes. theres several reasons alot of people store them upright (myself included)  storage space is at the top of the list.

[ipstrategies]

How about camshaft storage? I have a replacement cam for my Charger, I picked it  up cheap and will not be using for a long time I hope. How should I store it? It is still in the Mopar box it came in. Should it be oiled, greased or anything?

[Runner]

just make sure it stays dry and doesnt corrode or rust.

[terrible one]

The machine shop I do business with stands them on end as well...

[Headrope]

let me ask this,  if laying them down would cause them to warp then why wouldnt staning then on end cause them to bend?.   think about all the weight sitting on that bottom set of rod rod throws that are off set.     then think about the abuse a crank shaft takes. theres several reasons alot of people store them upright (myself included)  storage space is at the top of the list.

... and it's much harder to trip on something you're affraid of knocking over.

[tecmopar]

At the shop they are stood on end for storage space, only because you can't stack them unless they are in their original wooden grate and then its only 4 high. When you lay one down, its resting on at least 2 of the counterweights so it would need to be made of butter for it to bend at all. On the NEW camshaft issue, it can be stored laying down ( same principle ), it should be coated with a smidge of cosmoline and wrapped in wax paper from the factory but keep a check on it as they don't do this very well anymore either, good luck.

[8WHEELER]

Yep, both of the machine shops I have used over 26yrs, both say the cranks should be stood on end   
So that is how I have allways done it, OK I will go out and tip my cranks back down 

Dan

[AKcharger]

You guys kill me!

[dodgecharger-fan]

Sounds like something that got started right after the "new kid" was sent over to the tool crib for a board stretcher and a bottle of headlght fluid.

"..and when you get back, make sure you stand those cranks up so they don't warp."

[resq302]

Actually, the guy who just rebuilt our engine for our el camino said that they should be stored upright or hung.  He has been building race engines and rebuilding various engines for the past 25 years and knows his stuff backwards.  He has even designed a machine to bore and deck a block without having to remove it from the jig.  He built steel cabinets where he has all of his cranks in slots where the end tht bolts up to the flywheel is.  The reason he said why it should be hung or stood on end is that the center focal point is directed toward the center of the shaft causing it to be balanced. 

[73chargers4404]

i allways just put the main bearings back in and lay it in the block

[AKcharger]

...well if you don't have a block, makes it hard

[Ghoste]

It takes less space to stand it upright and even if it is an old wives tale, it ain't hurting anything to keep it upright.  If it's not an old wives tale, (and if it is, it sure is a commonly accepted one), then you'll only help it.  At the very least, it won't be rolling around on the shop floor and inviting endless comments from people about how you're warping it leaving it on it's side.

[TylerCharger69]

sounds like a load of crap to me too...an old wivestale

[RD]

i just thought about something.... how can this be a wivestale?

when was the last time you had a wife tell you anything scientifically specific in regards to an automotive part.

urban legend sounds better don'cha thunk?  hehehe

[TylerCharger69]

lol...okay...ya got me...you are right!!!   wivestale was not an appropriate use of terms!!!...lol   I'll go with urban legend

[rt green]

YES IT CAN WARP!!! i've had automotive and deisel traing in my life and have been a mechanic for years. in all cases of school and the traing the factories give you they tell you to store it on end, or hang them. even more so on motorcycles. if you want vibration, go to the adult toy store.