yact: crankshaft

zCypher

Diamond Member
Aug 18, 2002
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I dunno much when it comes to cars and its mechanics but my friend wants to know if his car will run with a broken crankshaft? lol

sounds pretty dumb... but no semi knowledgable car people are around here at the moment, so I figured i'd ask here and see what happens . :p
 

TommyWDetroit

Banned
Mar 27, 2001
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Uuh.. no. If it had a broken crankshaft, it wouldn't run even if lord Jesus Christ came down from the heavens and commanded it to.
Well.. depending on if your talking about a CRACK or a complete severing.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
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Originally posted by: TommyWDetroit
Uuh.. no. If it had a broken crankshaft, it wouldn't run even if lord Jesus Christ came down from the heavens and commanded it to.
Well.. depending on if your talking about a CRACK or a complete severing.
If it's cracked, then it won't run for very long.

ZV
 

JC

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2000
5,833
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It's possible, but not very likely! Depends on the type of break. My friend's 340 ran for a long time with a broken crank....it broke at the rear journal, but the shape of the break, and the fact that it couldn't spread apart, allowed it to continue to run and drive.

JC
 

TommyWDetroit

Banned
Mar 27, 2001
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Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: TommyWDetroit
Uuh.. no. If it had a broken crankshaft, it wouldn't run even if lord Jesus Christ came down from the heavens and commanded it to.
Well.. depending on if your talking about a CRACK or a complete severing.
If it's cracked, then it won't run for very long.

ZV

Exactly.. it "might" run for a second or two if it was cracked, if that. But definately not if it was broke apart.
 

Damage

Senior member
Dec 3, 2001
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Ever see a two stroke spin a crank.. eww..

They are pressed in place with ball bearings usually..(you can have them welded but that's extra work)

all of a sudden all of your pistons hit top dead center at once and boom..

Broken crank in a 4 stroke = fix it now or risk losing your ENTIRE valve train also.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
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It should have lasted a lot longer than that. What was it made of? How long was it used?
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: Howard
It should have lasted a lot longer than that. What was it made of? How long was it used?

uhh... lol... I'd imagine it was made out of steel..

Not sure how many miles were on the car. :p

 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
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a broken crank is an engine that does not run. A broken crank usually means toasted motor. the pistons likely colided with the valves depending on where the crank broke. (also assuming this is an interference engine we are talking about)

a burnout is not likely to break a crank. You break a crank at 10,000 rpm, if then. usually something else gives way before the crank.
 

JC

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2000
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OK, I talked to my bro with the 340....he drove it home a couple miles after the crank broke....made a lot of racket, but would still start, run and drive after he got home!

Pic 1

Pic 2


Granted, this is truly an exception.....over 99% of broken cranks would result in a non-running condition.

JC
 

Challenger

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2001
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I had an '86 S10 Blazer that the crank broke just at the front of the number 2 main.It started and would drive.I only drove it about a hundred feet before I shut it off and called a friend with a flat bed to come and get me.When I got home it still started and ran but it made one hell of a racket.I doubt if it would have run very long but it did run.I still have the front of it in my garage that I use as a wheel chock once in awhile;)