DT1 flat track project

I'm almost ready to assemble the bottom end, so needed to make a crankshaft install tool. It is to pull the crank through the main bearings. Since you really only want to put force on the inner race of the bearing for this, I made the face of the tool with one of the old bearings. Using an angle grinder with a cut-off wheel I cut off the outer race and the ball cage.


I opened up the inside of the old inner race a bit just so it wouldn't get stuck on the crank.


To finish the body of the tool I used a section of an old 37mm fork tube, and put a thick washer on the top. The body has to be long enough to fully seat the bearing on one end and clear the adapters on the other.


Here it is sitting on the other old main bearing.


I bought a 12" section of  1/2"-13 threaded rod.


It was longer than needed, so I used the left over part for a T-handle, although this isn't really needed.


Now the adapters. The right side of the crank is M18-1.00 and the left is M12-1.25. I used the right side crank nut from the '72 parts engine and welded a 1/2"-13 nut to it, and then rounded it off to fit in the tool body. For the left side I bought a two pack of M12-1.25 nuts from Autozone (Dorman part #783-012), welded them together, and then welded the 1/2"-13 nut on. The middle M12-1.25 nut is basically a spacer since there is a small part of the crank snout that sticks out past the threads.


And how it works (without the case or bearing), first thread on the adapter.


Then thread the tool on and tighten the nut to pull the crank through the bearing.


It isn't real pretty, but I only spent about $5 to make it, and I think it will work fine. I should find out later this week.