Crack Intervention

By Willy Vinton

Here are some photos of the continuing saga of the 1910 Chalmers-Detroit engine. As you can see in this photo there is a crack in the crankcase that leaks lots of oil when the engine runs. This has to be repaired before we can drive the car.








This is another crack that is in the front main bearing boss. This engine has two main bearings, both being ball type bearings that support the crankshaft.







This area was cut out sometime in the past to install a starting motor, maybe in the 50s or 60s. The crack was caused by not radiusing the corners to relieve the stress. This area has to be repaired because this car runs a wet clutch (the flywheel housing is full of engine oil, and  would not be able to keep oil in it).

So, as you can see by these photos, the efforts involved in keeping the museum cars running can become difficult at times. This crankcase, like many of the time, had magnesium mixed in the aluminum, which makes the repairs more difficult as well as the castings being very pourous.

But, we're making the repairs and will have the Chalmers-Detroit running again this summer.