MkIII cradle to crankcase clearance seems wide - use spacers?

T

timson4

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Jan 23, 2015
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Howdy folks,

I´m attaching a newly rebuilt engine to my cradle (both on the bench) as the next early step in my from-the-frame-paint-up rebuild. Sorting out the required bolts (and considering the 10mm upgrade) another question has come up: the inside distance between my cradle arms is at least 1/16" wider than the crankcase where they attach, at the three rearward boltpoints.

It seems there should be a spacing washer on one or both sides of the case to take up the slack, instead of putting the cradle under tension, yet I see none pictured. On each of my old, greasy bolts, there are two washers, but I can´t recall if one was used for such spacing.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
Tim
 
There is no spacers between the engine and cradle, the only spacer is for the top bolt of the gearbox! is your cradle bent?
 
Thanks for the input, folks.
The cradle doesn´t seem to be bent, but there is a flair as the two sides move forward from the iso/swingarm points.
My crankcase measures 3.30" at all three rear boltpoints.
The cradle measures the same inside width at both the iso tube and swingarm tube.
However, the cradle boltpoints measure, from top (behind and above crank) to bottom (below crank), as follows: 3.41", 3.37" and 3.38".

Not a big deal, I think; but since pulling that 1/16" flair in at the boltpoints puts the whole cradle under a slight tension, would it be better to compensate with a thin washer, even though that´s not in the parts manual?

Not sure if this was caused over time or simply a factory welding inaccuracy, but I tend to think I´d rather not needlessly stress the cradle when I torque those bolts down.

Cheers,
Tim
 
timson4 said:
Thanks for the input, folks.
The cradle doesn´t seem to be bent, but there is a flair as the two sides move forward from the iso/swingarm points.
My crankcase measures 3.30" at all three rear boltpoints.
The cradle measures the same inside width at both the iso tube and swingarm tube.
However, the cradle boltpoints measure, from top (behind and above crank) to bottom (below crank), as follows: 3.41", 3.37" and 3.38".

Not a big deal, I think; but since pulling that 1/16" flair in at the boltpoints puts the whole cradle under a slight tension, would it be better to compensate with a thin washer, even though that´s not in the parts manual?

Not sure if this was caused over time or simply a factory welding inaccuracy, but I tend to think I´d rather not needlessly stress the cradle when I torque those bolts down.

Cheers,
Tim
Click to expand...
Simple fabrication welding distortion.

The bolts pull it in.

Take a big deadblow hammer & wallop it in if it bothers you.

A lifetime of metal trades speaking.
 
You're over-thinking it. And also under thinking the unintended consequences…

If you did put some spacers in, what would you then do for the gearbox mount?

Bolt it up. The bolts will pull in that tiny gap and you’ll never think about it again.
 

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