ROD 1G4324 - Caterpillar

Crankshaft
The crankshaft converts the combustion forces in the cylinders into rotating torque which powers the equipment. A vibration damper is used on the front of the crankshaft to reduce torsional vibrations (twist on the crankshaft) that can cause damage to the engine. The crankshaft drives a group of gears (front gear train) on the front of the engine. The front gear train provides power for the following components:
Engine oil pump
Camshaft
Governor
Air compressor
Power steering pumpIn addition, the front belt pulleys on the crankshaft provide power for following components:
Radiator fan
Water pump
Alternator
Refrigerant compressorHydrodynamic seals are used at both ends of the crankshaft to control oil leakage. The hydrodynamic grooves in the seal lip move lubrication oil back into the crankcase as the crankshaft turns. The front seal is located in the front housing. The rear seal is installed in the flywheel housing.
Illustration 1 g00698014
Schematic of Oil Passages in a 4 Cylinder Engine (1) Oil gallery (2) Main bearings (3) Connecting rod bearings
Illustration 2 g00698015
Schematic of Oil Passages in a 6 Cylinder Engine (1) Oil gallery (2) Main bearings (3) Connecting rod bearingsPressurized oil is supplied to all main bearings through drilled holes in the webs of the cylinder block. The oil then flows through drilled holes in the crankshaft in order to provide oil to the connecting rod bearings. The crankshaft is held in position by either five main bearings on the four cylinder engine or seven main bearings on the six cylinder engines. A thrust main bearing is located next to the rear main bearing. This type of main bearing is used in order to control the end play of the crankshaft. Camshaft
The camshaft is located in the upper left side of the cylinder block. The camshaft is driven by an idler gear that is turned by the crankshaft in the front gear train. Five camshaft bearings support the camshaft in a four cylinder engine. Seven camshaft bearings support the camshaft in a six cylinder engine. Each bearing journal is lubricated from the oil manifold in the cylinder block. A thrust pin that is located at the rear of the block positions the camshaft through a circumferential groove. The groove is machined at the rear of the camshaft.The camshaft has three lobes at each cylinder that operate the unit injector, the exhaust valves, and the inlet valves. As the camshaft rotates, each lobe moves a lifter assembly. Each outside lifter assembly moves a pushrod, which will move either an inlet valve or an exhaust valve. The center lifter assembly moves a pushrod that operates the fuel injector. The camshaft must be in time with the crankshaft. Timing is the relationship of the camshaft lobes to the crankshaft position, which will cause the valves and the fuel injector in each cylinder to operate at the correct time. Timing of the camshaft is accomplished by aligning marks on the following components with each other:crankshaft gear, idler gear and camshaft gear.Vibration Damper
The force from combustion in the cylinders will cause the crankshaft to twist. This is