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Hand turning a Chris Craft K engine

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mcashman53
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Hand turning a Chris Craft K engine

Post by mcashman53 » Wed Feb 12, 2020 12:56 pm

I recently "rescued" a really nice 1954 CC Sea Skiff (22ft) that just needs some TLC. I know the engine was rebuilt 4 years ago and has only 5 hrs on it. I have pulled the plugs and put some Mystery Oil in the cylinders and now want to slowly hand turn it over. Any advice on how best to turn it? Seems a little tight - Tranny in neutral, plugs out....any advice? Thx. Mike

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Bilge Rat
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Re: Hand turning a Chris Craft K engine

Post by Bilge Rat » Wed Feb 12, 2020 5:24 pm

Looking at the flywheel, for a standard rotation engine it will spin counter clockwise. In the center of the flywheel should be a 1 directional boss that a crank originally would fit into. You could try putting a wrench on one of the flywheel bolts, but if the engine is stiff, you'll be turning it counter clockwise and it will probably just loosen the bolt.

If you cannot rotate the engine with the starter, you could try a pry bar between the flywheel bolts. I recently rebuilt an MCL and periodically need to spin the engine by hand. I fabricated a crank of sorts by taking an 8 inch long 1/2" socket extension with a piece of 1/4" rod mounted perpendicular through a hole bored into the extension. The rod is tack welded to the extension. It goes into the 1 directional boss hole and engages with the boss. Then I can use a 1/2" ratchet to spin the flywheel counter clockwise without loosening up the bolts or scratching my nicely painted flywheel.

The original cranks are out there but kind of expensive. You could never actually spin the engine fast enough to start it in the boat unless you were the Incredible Hulk. Used more for turning the engine for valve adjustments and setting static timing.
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

mcashman53
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Re: Hand turning a Chris Craft K engine

Post by mcashman53 » Wed Feb 12, 2020 8:14 pm

That is really helpful, thanks! I'm sure I can fabricate something that will fit in the boss hole and turn it. Thanks for so clearly describing which way the "standard" rotation turns, counter-clockwise as I'm looking at the fly-wheel. I put a long screw driver between 2 of the fly-wheel bolts for leverage but it just seemed too hard to turn...I didn't want to force anything. I guess I could always try cranking it with the battery, but I wanted to make sure the valves were not stuck. Thanks for your help! Mike

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Bilge Rat
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Re: Hand turning a Chris Craft K engine

Post by Bilge Rat » Thu Feb 13, 2020 7:04 am

Pictures are worth 1000 words...
Attachments
crank1.jpg
crank2.jpg
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

mcashman53
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Re: Hand turning a Chris Craft K engine

Post by mcashman53 » Thu Feb 13, 2020 12:22 pm

Great pictures! Thanks - I'm going to make something similar. Mike

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tkhersom
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Re: Hand turning a Chris Craft K engine

Post by tkhersom » Tue Feb 18, 2020 5:07 pm

If all you are looking to do is turn the engine over, not trying to start it manually, a simple fly wheel turner should work well.

https://shop.snapon.com/product/Clutch- ... rner/A144A
Troy in ANE - Former President CCABC

1957 CC 21' Continental "Yorktown" (Mom's boat)
https://www.chris-craft.org/boats/22625/
1985 Formula 242LS "Gottago"
1991 Formula 36PC "Band Aids"

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drrot
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Re: Hand turning a Chris Craft K engine

Post by drrot » Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:16 am

Won't work. Front mount covers the teeth.
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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Bilge Rat
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Re: Hand turning a Chris Craft K engine

Post by Bilge Rat » Wed Feb 19, 2020 10:07 am

Yeah I looked into that style flywheel turner too and there just isn't any clear room to use it. They're meant for using under a car/truck engine and while there are obstacles around there as well, you have more area to work and better leverage. If the K engine is out of the boat and you can lift it high enough, that might work from the bottom of the flywheel.
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

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