here is something I'll bet no one has seen

While reminiscing about obsolete tools I have, this thought came to mind.

 A crankshaft throw being reground while the engine is still in the car.

A specialist would come from the local auto parts store ,  yes they did those sort of things back then.

The car was jacked up, pan removed. rod was pushed up out to the way. A grinding machine was hung on the throw and the grind wheel below.

A rear wheel was jacked  up and a motor with a roller would turn the wheel, transmission in gear, this would turn the engine.

As the crank turned, the grinding wheel was applied by a micrometer wheel.  When the throw was round an smooth again, an undersized bearing was applied and every thing put back together.

This as done when engine didn't run as far as they do today and they had to be kept running.

Before any one asks,  no this is not among my old tools.

Yep, never seen that. Cool.

In reply to iceracer :

I wouldn't be surprised if I know a guy who has one. He's the most authentic greaser/rat-rod type guy I know, quite possibly autistic, as his level of knowledge & skill with pre-1960 and especially pre-WWII vehicles is encyclopedic, as is his collection. 

In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :

Would be neat if he has.

In reply to iceracer :

I'll ask our mutual friend, unsurprisingly that guy isn't really into modern things like social media or email. 

I've actually performed that task, but on a Ford 8-N tractor 40 some years ago.

And I thought it was an obsolete task back then.

The owner of the shop owned the grinding. equipment, and I was on salary, so if he had nothing else for me to do, I worked on the tractor.

I've heard it being done but never witnessed it 

How do you keep the other bearings from getting destroyed in the process?  Presumably there's no oil flowing through the engine (and if there was it would be spraying all over the grinding surface from the galley in the crank...)

Never seen it but read about it in service manuals.

In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :

The rotation is very slow and only for a short time.

Existing oil lubes enough

My 2nd car was a 1964 MK1 Cortina 4 door with a column change manual.  I think the engine was the 1500?  Every couple of months it would develop a knock.  The engine really needed a crank grind but I was a school student with zero disposable income.  I used to stop in at my local Ford dealership and buy new bearings on the way home from school, then I would elicit my Mum's help with the block and tackle in my parents garage - I would pull the motor, remove the main cap, throw in the new bearings, then slot the motor back in.  All done within an hour or two so that I could be driving the car again the next day.

I need to send my mother some flowers.