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Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

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mark.pauster
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Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by mark.pauster » Thu Sep 03, 2020 7:05 pm

<t>My 1957 Hercules Kfl engine started to make a noise recently
I took the generator off thinking is the bearing. the noises is very profound metal squealing coming from the area of the fly wheel
The noise definitely changes with the RPM and sometimes comes and goes. sometimes gets louder sometimes quieter<br/>
I can’t find any detailed drawing or parts Info For that area
Any thoughts or assistance would be greatly appreciated

I tried to load a short video and sound but I don't think the site allows this.
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Mark
1957 Chris Craft 28’ Sedan with Flybridge

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Matt Smith
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by Matt Smith » Fri Sep 04, 2020 4:56 am

Put the video on youtube and post a link.
As to the sound and issue. It's the internet, so it will most likely be one of 4000 things. HA.
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by Bilge Rat » Fri Sep 04, 2020 6:16 am

Have you tried taking a length of small diameter hose to your ear and moving the hose around that part of the engine? Might help in pin pointing the exact location of the noise. I know this is tough around a spinning flywheel. Although it seems to come from the front of the engine, a vacuum leak at a carb or the intake manifold can cause a lot of noise too. Exhaust manifold leaks can sound mechanical as well.

Hows the oil pressure?
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by Badger85 » Fri Sep 04, 2020 6:25 am

Generator belt squealing?

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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by jfrprops » Fri Sep 04, 2020 8:22 am

were it the other end of the engine...I would suspect Damper Plate////but NOT....good luck...John in Va
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by mark.pauster » Fri Sep 04, 2020 10:52 am

https://youtu.be/S7G9xarIzIM

the scraping sound is definitely coming from the flywheel area. I wish it were coming somewhere else where it can be easily worked on!)
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Mark
1957 Chris Craft 28’ Sedan with Flybridge

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Captain Nemo
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by Captain Nemo » Fri Sep 04, 2020 11:47 am

Sounds like the flywheel is scraping on something, check if the flywheel bolts are tight. Hopefully this is external and not something worse.
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drrot
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by drrot » Fri Sep 04, 2020 12:46 pm

Any work done recently? There are two shoulder bolts in the flywheel housing. Are they still there and in the right place?
Jim Staib
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1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
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mark.pauster
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by mark.pauster » Fri Sep 04, 2020 9:50 pm

No work done recently. The 4 flywheel to crankshaft bolt look tight. Not familiar with the 2 housing bolts. I ran my hand around the flywheel as best as I could, considering it is very tight space, and did not feel any obstruction. Is it possible that the belt pulley sheered from the shaft?
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Mark
1957 Chris Craft 28’ Sedan with Flybridge

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drrot
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by drrot » Sat Sep 05, 2020 7:36 am

Not likely. The pulley is part of the flywheel.
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by Jim Godlewski » Sat Sep 05, 2020 8:01 am

A couple of questions... why do I not see the generator? I would have guessed the generator pulley broke and rubbing but I don't see it. What is the red piece at the 8 second point in the video?
1956 17 Sportsman CC-17-2310
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by Captain Nemo » Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:40 am

Jim, he pulled the generator thinking that may be the noise, the red thing appears to be the label on the belt he left on.
The next thing I would do is pull the starter and inspect it to see if the flywheel is rubbing on that somewhere. May end up pulling the flywheel if nothing is scraping on the starter.
Boats are to be made of wood, otherwise, God would have grown fiberglass trees.

mark.pauster
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by mark.pauster » Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:10 pm

Engine not running, there is plenty of gap between the starter and flywheel. I’m thinking the flywheel and generarator pulley are separate, cannons confirm, and the noise is from the pulley. Almost impossible to inspect due to tight clearances.
Flywheel inspected has no unusual wear patterns. Sound definitely from this area and is metal scraping and varies with rpm.
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Mark
1957 Chris Craft 28’ Sedan with Flybridge

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Captain Nemo
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by Captain Nemo » Sun Sep 06, 2020 7:31 am

Pulling the flywheel is the next course of action. Not an easy task right up against the bulkhead like that.
By the way, what boat are you working on there, Sedan Cruiser?
Boats are to be made of wood, otherwise, God would have grown fiberglass trees.

mark.pauster
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by mark.pauster » Sun Sep 06, 2020 10:49 pm

Yes
1957 sedan cruiser with flybridge and access to the front of the engine is extremely difficult
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Mark
1957 Chris Craft 28’ Sedan with Flybridge

mark.pauster
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by mark.pauster » Sun Sep 06, 2020 10:50 pm

I will pull the fly wheel but I believe it is separate then the pulley for the generator when I do so I can’t use that engine anymore for the end of the season I just can’t find it drawings or parts diagram for that year and engine
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Mark
1957 Chris Craft 28’ Sedan with Flybridge

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Captain Nemo
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by Captain Nemo » Mon Sep 07, 2020 7:10 am

I understand the clearance problem What I saw in the video looked very familiar, I have a '56 Sedan 28'. When you get this apart you might find that what you have there is repairable. I don't know right off hand how that pulley is held in place, it could be welded.
Boats are to be made of wood, otherwise, God would have grown fiberglass trees.

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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by mark.pauster » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:52 am

An update:
Both engines have been fully machined and parts inspected. I am currently taking my time assembling the engines since I missed the B-season, UGH. Many things were discovered during breakdown: spun rod bearing (cyl. #2) which was likely the noise, several clogged water passages, cracks in the exhaust manifold (which I hope to find a very experienced welder.....for repair). Cam/Crank/rods will be re-used after inspection and minor surfacing, but everything else is new. Assembly pics to follow soon.
thanks to this forum for the technical support!
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Mark
1957 Chris Craft 28’ Sedan with Flybridge

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drrot
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by drrot » Fri Jul 30, 2021 8:28 am

machine bolt.jpg
Make sure these get in the right place. They will cause funky noises if not installed properly.
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

mark.pauster
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by mark.pauster » Mon Aug 02, 2021 1:52 am

thanks Jim.
Flywheel to crank bolts??
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Mark
1957 Chris Craft 28’ Sedan with Flybridge

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drrot
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by drrot » Mon Aug 02, 2021 8:14 am

NO. Front motor mount to block. They align the two and stop the flywheel from hitting the front motor mount.
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

mark.pauster
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Re: Hercules KFL engine noise, help appreciated

Post by mark.pauster » Wed Aug 18, 2021 3:51 pm

Just an update.
During my current rebuild of my 2 herds, it was discovered that the noise in question was likely a spun rod bearing, large end at #1 piston
Would make sense
Machine shop resolved issue with bore of connecting rod and I am currently in assembly mode for both engines.
Regards
Regards
Mark
1957 Chris Craft 28’ Sedan with Flybridge

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