Briggs 5Hp L Head Build Thread!!!

[OldStrattonMan]

Made time today to play with the build, so from nights of reading i found out that you can basically convert a non bearing block to atleast have a bearing on the pto side to help out with the mild mods you're doing. Hellion pointed out that my crank was to small to accept a clutch so i went to ebay and found a crank from another 130202 engine, i also purchase the large bearing and the sump cover to match the bearing. Whats great about these engines is almost everything can interchange with each engine. I kept hearing the term slip fitting the bearing to the crank and so i read some more, from what ive read the cranks that come from the raptor 2 blocks are already made ao that the bearing is a slip or loose fit, its loose enough that you can remove it without tools or a press, but is still a snug fit. The main reason for this is number 1 it reduces drag, other reasons are it helps line up timing marks and you can change bearings out without needing a press and just makes the job easier, granted this is mostly in race situations. Sure i could have just as easily pressed the bearing on at work but thats boring. So the way i achieved the slip fit was by using a drill press, i clamped the flywheel end in the chuck and on the pto side i put a marble in the divot and raised the deck of the press so it was a snug fit (see photos). I started with a 240 grit to take the metal away and would polish with a 400 and then crocus cloth. It takes time doing a little at a time then checking with a micrometer in my case but you can use the bearing to check also, the mic just helps speed the process so your not removing to check the fit each time. You want to keep doing it in small increments untill you have a good snug fit. Make sure to polish it with fine cloth when you're finished and you have a slip fitting bearing. Some mite say this was the wrong way to do it but hey i dont have a crankshaft machine so we back yard mechanics improvise to make stuff work sometimes. Hopefully want be to much longer waiting on my dyno cam so we can wrap this puppy up.