Crankshafts are under stress and vibration by their very nature of design.

Some crankshafts crack

more frequently than others. The most common cracks appear in the crankshafts out of the oil
holes and in the radius areas. Some minor cracks can be removed when grinding to an under-
size. Shafts that are prone to cracking should be crack tested before and after grinding. Some
causes of cracks can be a faulty harmonic balancer, revving the engine above manufacturer
specifications or out of balance shaft and associated components. As a common rule all diesel
shafts should be crack-tested at time of engine overhaul.

Crankshafts will crack in the radius area as a result of incorrect grinding. If the correct radius is
reduced or the grinder produces a step edge this crank will be more likely to crack and become
unserviceable than one ground correctly. Great care has to be taken to ensure no scratches or
marks are evident in the radius area.

Oil holes have to be re-chamfered after grinding and all burrs removed. Caution has to be taken
to retain the correct size and chamfer. This area is very thin due to the angle of the oil drilling
and will crack if not reshaped correctly after grinding.

The reduction of vibration by balancing engine components will reduce the likelihood of
crankshaft cracks. Shot peening and rolling of the radius area will also strengthen these areas
against increased stress produced in high performance diesel's and racing engines