Crankshaft end play?

[Alphabravo]

Hi All,
So I go to replace my harmonic balancer and I notice that I can push/pull what seems to me the entire crankshaft. the play is about 1/4" if not more. Is this what they call Crankshaft end play? And how much play is within tolorences? I don't recall ever seeing this on another motor before and this one seems to run great, and no strange noise other than the belt squeal I've been plagued with for some time. ( which is one of the reasons I decided to change the harmonic balancer is the first place, in addition to it wobbleing.)

It's a 97 GV with a 3.3 and 155K miles.

Thanks in advance for any info you may have.

[plymouthsrock]

According to my shop manual, wear limit is .015". No harm, no foul?

[Alphabravo]

Thanks for the quick reply.

.015 is less than the average point gap, if you recall those old days. This thing has way more play than that, which makes me very worried. I wonder how much longer this will last like this. It is leaking a little oil, but it has been doing that as long as I've owned it and not so much that I have to add any between oil changes. I wonder if the wobbley harmonic balancer caused it?

[plymouthsrock]

Sounds logical. If there are no symptoms, I think you're ok.

I do remember points- the old-timers I used to work with wondered why I used a feeler gauge and not a matchbook cover!

[Alphabravo]

Originally Posted by plymouthsrock

Sounds logical. If there are no symptoms, I think you're ok.

I do remember points- the old-timers I used to work with wondered why I used a feeler gauge and not a matchbook cover!

Yeah, I remember someone once telling me that if I am in a bind and don't have any feeler guages I could use a matchbook. Which, by the way, I haven't seen many of them, either. They used to give them every time you bought a pack, later you had to ask for them. I've since quit smoking, thankfully, but I think that now you would have to buy a lighter.

But I digress.

I'm still worried about the end play on that crankshaft. I think I'll just wait and see what happens.

Thanks for the replies.