MTFCA Forum

I have put a leakless water pump on my rebuilt 27 t engine the old pulley was rebuilt because it was loose but i wanted on of the aluminum crank pulleys you can tighten up. i put it on and tightened it up but it still has some play there are also billet pulleys made is the diameter in them smaller that you make them to fit? Have you ran into this and how did you tighten up this pulley the slop is not bad but I want it tight.

If you bought one of the pulleys you can tighten up and you can’t get it tight on your crankshaft, then your crankshaft is really worn very badly.

Yes it is I will need to mike it to see just how bad it is was thinking about salvage sleeve using a permanent locktite product to keep it tight.

It’s not the end of the world, a shim or sleeve will work, or you can use an aluminum one that will tighten on the crankshaft.

If your crankshaft is worn, or the pulley hole is too big, the only thing you can do, short of getting new components, is reduce the size of the hole, or increase the size of the shaft. This can be done with a thin metal shim from a food tin, cut the width of the pulley. If it is too thick and you need it of thinner material, you can hammer it flatter on an anvil or get a sheet of brass shim material from an auto parts store and make it as thin as you need to wrap around the shaft. Try and wrap completely and evenly around the shaft or you may get a wobble. Jim Patrick

Jim what you said is what i a thinking is a good solution.

Since you have a 27 it probably doesn't matter but you may have trouble if you hand crank. If you look at the third picture, notice the distance between the pin through the shaft and the back of the pulley. A lot of times there isn't enough room for the ratchet to grab the pin. Just check it to make sure before you try to crank the engine and have the pawl slip. I had that experience and IT HURTS!!! Dick C.

A neat trick I learned when making such shims from food cans is to leave the crimped edge on the top of the can on the shim. When the shim is formed to fit the shaft to which it is to be fitted, the rim edge is an aid in fitting the assembly. In this case, fit the shim with the rim edge on the inside of the pulley next to the engine. When fitting the pulley, it will push the shim on with it, with no chance of the shim being displaced.
I have used the same trick to make up/improve the gap between the exhaust pipe and cast muffler ends. In this application, the ribbed cans make for an even better seal. The rim edge goes on the outside and gives a stronger edge on which to tap the shim into place.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

Great idea Allan. I will remember to leave the rolled edge on whenever I do this. Thank you. Jim Patrick