302 crankshaft

[gnpenning]

I needed a crankshaft for a stock 302. After searching the net I found what I thought was a good choice. I called the vender to check and make sure this would work and they said yes. I purchased it, When I went to install it I found that the counterweight lightly rub the pistons plus only .001 end play while the rod and main clearance where in specs the varied wildly. The crank did not even get a full revalution nor was the crank gear installed.

I called the vendor their response was that ALL aftermarket cranks need machining. I could send it back at my cost and they would charge me for repolishing the crank and the bearings I bought are a waste. Or I can pay to have the crank machined and rebalanced.

Looking for options.

 

[Broncobowsher]

My Eagle stroker crank dropped in with no machine work done. So phoey on the all aftermarket cranks need machining.

At least the thrust clearance is tight enough that it can be machined out to clear.

It sounds like you got total junk for an aftermarket crank. I have never heard on a new one being that bad. From the sounds on it the seller doesn't care about customer service. Be sure to leave bad (but accurate and detailed) feedback (if you can), that will kill his business.

There is little else to say other then you got screwed. Happens to all of us from time to time. Now what to do? My best guess is take it to your locak machine shop, tell them what happened and see what they think. The machine work to bring it back may be too much and it might be better to just give up and source a more reputable crank kit. Then again the machine shop may not have a problem and might bring it in specs fast and cheap. Machine shop work is a HUGE variable. I would also get there opinion since this crank has enough wacky problems they might not trust it even if all the machine work is done. It isn't something that can be called over the net very well, one of those calls that requires a little touchy feely of the parts to know what is going on. They may not like the oiling holes or something else that we can't tell from just reading a post.

 

[gnpenning]

This is a Eagle crank. Thought I was buying some quality. Called the local machine shop about making it work they mentioned that this is not the first Eagle crank they have had this problem with. And yes it would cost more to fix than I paid for it. Glad yours worked.
They could have pre-lubed it.

 

[73azbronco]

Eagle as in these guys
http://www.eaglerod.com/

If so that's first I heard of anyone having issue. On the other hand, everything they sell is for custom build, either strokes or hi comp motor using non stock piston. If they sold you a crank for a stock setup, you should have to do zero work, demand a full refund, if they refuse, tell them bbb will be calling and call your cc company and stop payment. The balls in their court.

Or, if time is important, take it to machine shop, they should be able clearance for under 100

Final note, my machinist did sway me to use scat parts over eagle, so machinists are pretty into this stuff go figure

 

[gnpenning]

Yes that Eagle. After the sale the say no aftermarket cranks will work with OEM with out machining and balancing. I did review the product when I checked today it has been removed. Now I know why they had no reviews on any product I looked at. I did try Eagle direct. They said I bought it from someone else so they can not help. Kind of expected that... Local machine shop doesn't turn cranks. I would be happy if they would machine it to work but they want to charge me to machine their product to work (plus shipping
) after they said it would. The hard part is I called before purchase to keep something like this from happening.

 

[Bulletman]

There ain't nuthin' worse than people.

 

[NYLES]

Send it back take the hit and by a scat or somethin.........AND NEVER USE THAT VENDER AGAIN!

 

[Rustytruck]

Go to the website and print out a copy of their return policy before it changes.
In their return policy is this statement. Just return it and take the shipping heat and move on to a better life.

"If you are not completely satisfied with any product purchased from Eagle Specialty Products, Inc., you may return it freight prepaid in new and unused condition within 30 days of purchase for a full refund. Contact our returns department for a return authorization number prior to returning any parts. A copy of the original sales invoice must accompany all returns. No returns allowed on custom or special order parts."

 

[KyleQ]

Why not go to the junkyard and pull on and have it polished?

 

[73azbronco]

First, squeaky wheel gets the refund, threaten bbb, file with bbb, then call credit card company and file claim.

Now, go look through Craigslist for 5.0 or 302 crank for around $50

 

[gnpenning]

I tried to stay away from mentioning vendor or manufacture in the origanial post to try and be tactiful. But after several phone calls to vendor and manufacture I would have hoped for better support. I purchased the crank from CNC Motorsports not Eagle so Eagle wants the product to go back to CNC even though it was a direct ship from them. CNC will take it back on my dime and charge me to repolish the crank. About half the origainal purchase price to do that. They also said to sand down the bearing for end play then use a hand grinder and grind down the counterweights to clear. Recommended clearance is .050. So there return policy doesn't apply in this case.

My local machine shop doesn't turn cranks. They can get in reground cranks and charge $70 core for a crank. The PnP wants $50 with me pulling out crank.

I think my best bet is to put crank with bearings on CL for someone who is looking to change pistons and balance. And move on.

 

[Broncobowsher]

This is odd. Eagle sent me a balanced stroker kit, bought via Summit racing. Eagle goofed and sent a 3.45" crank instead of the 3.25" that should have been in the kit. I delt with Eagle directly to get this resolved.

Out of grins, what part number did you order up? I want to look up the specs on what you got, or should have got.

 

[needabronco]

I'm curious as to why you need a new crankshaft? 302 cranks are fairly stout and generally only need to be polished and rarely turned in my experience. And just about every decent machine shop I've ever been in has had piles of them laying around...

 

[gnpenning]

Part #103023000.

Have no history on motor but the crank had .030 bearings and heavy wear.

Like everything else we all have different experiences with common things.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I don't have the latest catalog, but new enough to translate that part number.
103023250 is the 3.250" stroke crank and 103023400 is the 3.400" stroker. So your part number is the standard 3.000" stroker version.

ESP cast steel crank...
"Each crankshaft is inspected for diminsion, size, and stroke accuracy."
I would be talking with Eagle again, tell them you bought a machined crank and it came out of spec. There ad states that they are checked for deminsions.

For the pistons, there is an oddity that may be going on here. Probably not but a chance of it. 289 pistons are often stated as interchangable with 302. Whe the 302 got the extra stroke the rod got shorter and the pistone ring pack and wristpin height stayed the same. But the skirt got a shortening to better clear the bobweights. 302 pistons will work just fine in a 289 but 289 pistons (with the longer skirts) may interfere with the crank. Never seen it in person, only heard/read about it. Generally never an issue as new pistons almost always are made for the 302 specs and that automaticly makes them reverse compatable with the older 289s. But if you somehow got a set of the taller skirt 289 pistons... You stated you have no history of this motor.