jdb

is there an easier fix for severe end play .080 than replacing the mains ?

I believe end play is set by moving the flywheel to take up slack within .005-.010.

if you set the flywheel to do that wouldn't it rub the bearing spacer housing ?

Nope.

If all is as it should be, the flywheel will be against (and keyed to) the flywheel spacer and NOT touch the bearing housing at all.

It's obvious that my thrust is wore out on the mains because I have this problem . is replacing the mains the only solution ?

If you don't believe Buckeye Al, and me, then you may want to consult a service manual.

I do believe and thanks to you both , I'll give it a try over the weekend , thanks again . not use to a deere

Buckeye Al is a friend of mine and a very good mechanic. But that is not his job.

Let's try this again...

The flywheel (attached to the crank shaft) butts up against the spacer and nothing more. The flywheel (under normal circumstances) does not touch the bearing housing! The flywheel touches only the crankshaft to which it is clamped solidly) and the spacer but not the bearing housing.

Most of the spacer (surrounding the crankshaft) is out of sight behind the bearing housing cover. The spacer is sandwiched between the flywheel and the main bearing housing (not the cover but the housing) with the crankshaft going through all three and the main bearing housing COVER. Under normal circumstances the spacer is five to ten thousandths of an inch from the main bearing housing. Yes, we push it against the main bearing housing and set the flywheel five to ten thousandths of an inch from the spacer but once you remove your feeler gauge then operate the clutch, the space between the spacer and the flywheel is reduced to zero and stays at zero. The spacing is transferred (by operation of the clutch) to between the spacer and the main bearing housing but that is inside, out of sight and rather tough to measure with feeler gauges.

The spacer serves multiple purposes. It limits side to side travel of the crank. It (with the cork ring inside of it) prevents the escape of crank case oil around the crankshaft and it is an oil slinger. There is a spiral groove in the bearing housing face of the spacer that "pumps" the oil leaving the left side of the left main away from places where it can leak out as the engine runs. There is no lip type seal here to retain the oil in this engine.

The spacer (keyed to the flywheel so it spins at crank shaft speed) butts up against the main bearing housing but it does so with a .005 to .010 inch running clearance. The flywheel does not rightfully touch the main bearing housing. The spacer does but it does so inside the crank case where it receives a constant flow of oil from the left side of the left main. A "shoulder" on the crankshaft to the right side of the left main is the other lateral crankshaft travel limiter. The crank is entirely "indexed" on the left main bearing housing but the flywheel should not be touching the main bearing housing or the main bearing housing cover.

Hope that helps.

Wow, Al !!!
That was fabulous. Even I can understand that.
Thanks.

Fr. Harris

I thank you very much it worked wonderfully , it's done and completed . thanks for the full explanation .