Phoenix crank location

[Ian Williams]

When I fit bearings I use a bit of heat to alleviate tightness, a warm bearing will drop straight onto a cold crank journal and then immediately tighten as the temperatures normalise. I do exactly the same with housings such as the crank case, I have seen far to many things ruined by previous builders always knocking bearings in and out cold, every time you do so you the journal and or housing size are affected slightly until eventually you end up in a situation where the bearings are no longer a good fight fit. This is particularly a problem with the rear main as the bearing then frets on the journal causing more wear, someone recently brought round an engine with Phoenix crank damaged by just such practice.