Hello all!
Had the chance to start on a 4 piece crankshaft. The plan is to make 4 pieces that lock together with a square end and socket. The square will allow me to index the crank arms in 90 degree increments. The design will also allow all the main bearings to be ball bearings.
The 2 center sections and the rear section all have one of the ends the same. So i spent the day turning the same end on 9 pieces. I made enough pieces for 3 shafts hoping for enough to make 2 when i'm done. The tip of this end will be milled square.
The front piece is different so I turned the front shaft. All 3 have a real tight slip fit. I'm real happy with the fit of the bearing.
Then the front pieces were rotated around and chucked into a collet. The rear of the piece was then finished. The rear of this piece will have a square milled into it to accept the piece behind it.
This should all become a little clearer as the pieces progress.