Studebaker 'Tech Trivia' Question #7

[SN-60]

Is it true that the front main bearing is under greater stress on the supercharged Golden Hawks and later supercharged "R" engines due to the additional belt loads and heavy crankshaft pulleys?

[SN-60]

No thoughts on this one folks?

[Alan]

Of course it is. Why else would they extend the crank snout?

[Tom Bredehoft]

Extend the snout, give it more leverage to apply more stress on the bearing......righto

[Alan]

Tom, You ever try to put belts on an R2 or R3? You will see how much the crank gets pulled up at the front.

[SN-60]

I'd really like to get more input from the Forum on this question......Anyone else have an opinion?

[JoeHall]

I am thinking less stressed. The belts are pulling the crank upward, which would help counter the pressure of the pistons & rods pushing downward on the crank. Put another way, main bearings wear more on the bottom bearing half, due to the downward pressure; the belts help pull the crank upward. The length of the snout is irrelevant to the question, as worded.

[SN-60]

To: Joe Hall,-----Very interesting thought Joe.

[SN-60]

ANSWER--(OPINION).... These engines were so 'overbuilt' that any increased stress placed on the front main bearing from supercharger equipment would be extremely negligible.