Featured Technical Myth, or truth? Storing cams and cranks horizontally vs vertically

So there is and old myth (I believe it is a myth) that you have to store cams and crankshafts vertically, as storing them horizontally will cause them to warp. Is there any empirical evidence that this is NOT a myth? If any of you have references from manufacturers or other reliable sources I would appreciate a link or reference.

I think the only reason to store them vertically is that it is simply a space-saving option.

 

Never heard that. This is going to be a learning experience .

 

I’ve heard of this when I was a kid. Something about it will cause the crank to “sag in the middle”. I always thought it was a myth myself. I’ve always stored cranks vertically just because it takes up less room than laying them horizontally. I’ve never heard of this with cams. All of the old shops I have been too, if they had cams laying around. They were stacked on a shelf somewhere.

 

Every machine shop that I have ever been to stood cranks on end. Maybe that was so that they would take up less floor space but they were/are always standing on end.

 

When I helped in an engine machine shop years ago we stored crankshafts set on end but I can't recall that anyone ever said why. I assumed it was for space reasons. I've heard the "sagging" theory too, but unless it's sitting unsupported for decades I can't imagine it would be enough of a problem to worry about.
The mystery continues!

 

When I worked for an engine supply shop in my early 20's, we stored cranks on the flange end because it saved floor space. Our cams were in boxes laying horizontally on shelving. I don't think it makes a difference, and I don't think manufacturers would want their product to be damaged prior to install, so if there was a preference, it'd probably have a message on the box about how to store it.

 

If Your Crank "Sags" Then Perhaps It Has Waited Too Long To Be Back In Service?...

 

"Saggy crank" sound like a good bargaining term to use when buying a old used car

 

Sort of related but not really. Whenever I’ve had an engine on a stand I always support the front of the block with a block of wood and a small bottle jack if it’s going to be left for awhile. I’ve felt if I left a 600 lbs. engine hanging off the bell housing bolts it could distort the bores. Probably not, but who knows?

 

This seems like a post to keep up the chatter. It's been discussed many times. Lots of sources if you really want an answer. I'd review manufacturers and industry sites in these.
About 175,000 results
https://www.bing.com/search?form=MOZLBR&pc=MOZR&q=storing+crankshafts+on+end

 

Has anyone had potatoes growing in there radiator during long term storage ?

 

Wow! I'm glad I saw this. I'm going to redo my garage so I can store my hot rods on end so they won't sag!

 

I am not a rocket scientist nor do I know anything about designing or manufacturing cam's but I would think if there was a recommended way to store a cam it would be boldly printed on the box.

Having dropped a cam many years ago I do know they will break!



Myth, or truth? ~ I'm going to go with myth. HRP

 

If it is a cast cam core it will bend when you push start. Always check/straighten before you assemble the engine. Just rotate the core between "dead centers", straighten to .001 if you can get there. Many you tube vids to watch, practice on some old unusable cores first and while you are measuring, check your lobe taper after straight. Cams are straightened often during the grinding process. Any good machinist can do it for you if he will. Cams are often bent during shipping.

 

First off, any second year engineering student can quickly calculate the amount of deflection, from it's own weight, in a cam or crank when supported at its ends. It is fairly easy math, and the answer is not much at all.

2nd, I am the Quality Manager at an engine remanufacturing company that produces 40 diesel engines a day. We straighten, machine, cut, and polish all kinds of cranks and cams from engines ranging between 900 cc to 18 L (55 ci to 1100 ci, for you metrically challenged folks). All of our cranks (and cams) are stored laying down, because no wants to risk knocking over a 5 ft long, 500 lb CAT crank standing on its end.

 

If a crank was weak enough to sag by storing it horizontally, don't you think it'd crush under it's own weight when stored vertically? Or maybe everyone just thinks that since the rod journals have one directly opposite of it somewhere on the crank, they crush equally and therefore offset each other? But, wouldn't the rod journal closest to the ground offset more than the one closest to the ceiling, as the one on the bottom is supporting more weight? And wouldn't the crank also shrink in length from being stored vertically? Maybe a guy needs to rotate his crank every so often to keep it all equal and the proper length...........so many thoughts and so much to worry about. I need a nap, but after I rotate my crank.....

 

I'd heard this, too, but think about it. If a crank/cam would sag from resting vertically, how strong is it?

 

Same reason you are not supposed to store your rifles leaning in a corner with load on just the end of the barrel. Enough time and it will hurt the accuracy.
Cranks are usually put into service fairly soon, but they do have more weight.
If left for long periods of time they will move. Probably not much, but when dealing with a couple thousand of clearance

 

Store them on end, next to the batteries that have a piece of 2x6 under them to keep them from draining.

 

Spuds won't grow in mouse shit ....

 

What's the yield strength of cast iron? or steel? And how does that relate to the load on a crankshaft or camshaft that's laying on a few points of contact along it's length? vs one point of contact on it's end?

It's a great engineering exam question, eh?

who wants to throw out some numbers?

 

My dad grew them in old tires. HRP

 

I think its a myth. To me, the point is that when a crank is stored horizontally, it is probably going to be laying on a surface that provides support at multiple points along the crank. Can't imagine someone mounting the end of it so that the crank was not supported anywhere over its length.

I do that too. I always felt that it might eventually lead to some metal fatigue if it sits there for years. Don't know of any that ever actually had a problem..........but it just didn't seem like a good thing to do. I'm making a new engine stand right now and it will be used to also start/run engines. I've added those supports to my other stands and this one will have front motor mount supports as well.

 

I heard that forty years ago, and chose to disbelieve it. Thus far, no one has offered me any concrete evidence to the contrary.

 

I don’t know every crank grinder I’ve ever known has stored cranks standing up or hanging. I always thought about the crank falling over when standing up but I don’t know.
Next time I go to Mason City I’ll stop by and ask Joe what he thinks, he’s the crank grinder at Gramoundbeck’s, I know in a box they are supported by the box on the journal.

 

That’s how they shipped Chevy Vegas in the early seventies. Special railcars that stood the new Vegas on end so they could fit more vehicles in an enclosed rail car.

I recall pictures of Model Ts being shipped the same way in boxcars.

 

I have 'heard' the same story about ...cranks sagging in the middle if NOT stored upright{Hot Rod use to claim this and.... we all know they don't lie!)
Do we really want to know the effects gravity has on horizontal objects over time?
Gentlemen.... take a look below your navel sometime after your 60th birthday!
Ask the ladies about gravity... when they take off the old bra next time!
Jus say'in
6sally6
PS (or BS!)......If there is worry about cranks&cams sagging in the middle when laid on their sides I guess and equal worry would be how hanging cranks and cams would stretch them beyond use?!
IF I hang a crank from a 4.3 long enough....would it fit a 350 Shivel-lay mow-der ?!

 

I have heard a similar story about storing brake drums. I don't know if the stories are true but I don't want to find out.

Charlie Stephens

 

In a slightly related note, if you are storing a bunch of cranks, please label them, and maybe grease the journals. A friend of mine passed away a couple years ago and had an incredible collection of cranks, cams, rods, and other internal engine parts, and despite having a very dedicated crew of friends spend nearly 2 years cleaning out his collection (hoard), most of the cranks, cams and rods got scrapped, because they were too difficult to identify and a lot of them got rusty from being exposed for so long.

Unless you don't care what happens to your stuff after you're gone (which is legit, I guess). But unlabeled engine parts are going in the scrap dumpster, I promise you.