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Crankshaft and Piston Installation

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Special Tools Required 

  1. Check the main bearing clearance with plastigage (see CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARING REPLACEMENT  ).
  2. Check the connecting rod bearing clearance with plastigage (see CONNECTING ROD BEARING REPLACEMENT  ).
  3. Install the bearing halves in the engine block and the connecting rods.
  4. Apply new engine oil to the inside of the main bearings and the connecting rod bearings.
  5. Install the CKP pulse plate to crankshaft (see CKP PULSE PLATE REPLACEMENT  ).
  6. Lower the crankshaft (A) into the engine block, being careful not to damage the journals and the CKP pulse plate (B).
    Fig 1: Identifying Crankshaft And CKP Pulse Plate
    G08052311Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  7. Apply new engine oil to the side with the thrust washer groove. Install the thrust washers (A) in the No. 3 journal.
    Fig 2: Identifying Thrust Washers In No. 3 Journal
    G08052312Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  8. Install the main bearings (A) and the main bearing caps (B) with the arrow (C) facing the timing belt side of the engine block.
    Fig 3: Identifying Bearings And Main Bearing Caps Installation Position
    G08052313Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  9. Apply new engine oil to the bolt threads and flanges, then loosely install the bearing cap bolts (D) and the bearing cap side bolts (E).
  10. Set the crankshaft to bottom dead center (BDC) for the cylinder you are installing the piston in.
  11. Apply new engine oil to the piston, the inside of the ring compressor, and the cylinder bore.
  12. Attach the ring compressor to the piston/connecting rod assembly, and check that the bearing is securely in place.
  13. Position the piston/connecting rod assembly with the arrow (A) facing the timing belt side of the engine block.
    Fig 4: Positioning Piston/Connecting Rod Assembly Accoding To Arrow
    G08052314Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  14. Position the piston/connecting rod assembly in the cylinder, and tap it in using the wooden handle of a hammer (A). Maintain downward force on the ring compressor (B) to prevent the rings from expanding before entering the cylinder bore.
    Fig 5: Positioning Piston/Connecting Rod Assembly In Cylinder
    G08052315Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  15. Stop after the ring compressor pops free, and check the connecting rod-to-rod journal alignment before pushing the piston into place.
  16. Measure the diameter of each connecting rod bolt at point A and point B.
    Fig 6: Identifying Connecting Rod Bolt Diameter Measuring Points
    G08052316Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  17. Calculate the difference in diameter between point A and point B.

    Point A-Point B = Difference in Diameter 

    Difference in Diameter 

    Specification: 0-0.1 mm (0-0.004 in) 

  18. If the difference in diameter is out of tolerance, replace the connecting rod bolt.
  19. Install the connecting rod bearing (A), then line up the mark (B) on the connecting rod (C) and the rod cap (D).
    Fig 7: Identifying Mark On Connecting Rod And Rod Cap
    G08052317Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  20. Apply new engine oil to the bolt threads and flanges. Torque the bolts (E) to 20 N.m (2.0 kgf.m, 14 lbf.ft).
  21. Tighten the connecting rod bolt an additional 90 °.
    NOTE: Remove the connecting rod bolt if you tightened it beyond the specified angle, and go back to step  16 of the procedure. Do not loosen it back to the specified angle. Repeat steps  10 to  21 for the remaining cylinders.
    Fig 8: Identifying Connecting Rod And Bolt Tightening Angle
    G08052318Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  22. Tighten the main bearing cap bolts, then tighten the main bearing cap side bolts to the specified torque in the sequence as shown. Repeat the torque sequence again to ensure the bolts are properly torqued.
    Fig 9: Identifying Bearing Cap Bolts Tightening Sequence
    G08052319Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  23. Remove all of the old liquid gasket from the engine block end cover mating surfaces, the bolts, and the bolt holes.
  24. Clean and dry the engine block end cover mating surfaces and the crankshaft oil seal housing.
  25. Apply a light coat of new engine oil to the lip of the crankshaft oil seal.
  26. Using the driver handle, 15x135 L and the oil seal driver attachment, 106 mm, drive in the new crankshaft oil seal (A) until the oil seal driver attachment bottoms on the engine block end cover.
    Fig 10: Installing Crankshaft Oil Seal
    G08052320Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  27. Apply liquid gasket (P/N 08717-0004, 08718-0003, 08718-0004, or 08718-0009) to the engine block mating surface of the engine block end cover and to the inside edge of the threaded bolt holes. Install the component within 5 minutes of applying the liquid gasket.
    NOTE:
    • Apply a 2.3 mm (0.091 in) diameter bead of liquid gasket along the broken line (A).
    • If you apply liquid gasket P/N 08718-0012, the component must be installed within 4 minutes.
    • If too much time has passed after applying the liquid gasket, remove the old liquid gasket and residue, then reapply new liquid gasket.
    Fig 11: Identifying Broken Line And Liquid Gasket Applying Specifications
    G08052321Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  28. Install the dowel pins (A), a new O-ring (B), and the engine block end cover (C) on the engine block.
    NOTE:
    • Wait at least 30 minutes before filling the engine with oil.
    • Do not run the engine for at least 3 hours after installing the engine block end cover.
    Fig 12: Dowel Pins, O-Ring, Engine Block End Cover And Mounting Bolts With Torque Specification
    G08052322Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  29. Clean the excess oil off the crankshaft, and check that the oil seal lip is not distorted.
  30. Install a new crankshaft oil seal in the oil pump (see step 3 under OIL PUMP OVERHAUL ).
  31. Remove all of the old liquid gasket from the oil pump mating surfaces, the bolts, and the bolt holes.
  32. Clean and dry the oil pump mating surfaces.
  33. Apply liquid gasket (P/N 08717-0004, 08718-0003, 08718-0004, or 08718-0009) to the engine block mating surface of the oil pump and to the inside edge of the threaded bolt holes. Install the component within 5 minutes of applying the liquid gasket.
    NOTE:
    • Apply a 2.3 mm (0.091 in) diameter bead of liquid gasket along the broken line (A).
    • If you apply liquid gasket P/N 08718-0012, the component must be installed within 4 minutes.
    • If too much time has passed after applying the liquid gasket, remove the old liquid gasket and residue, then reapply the new liquid gasket.
    Fig 13: Identifying Broken Line And Liquid Gasket Applying Specifications
    G08052323Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  34. Apply a light coat of new engine oil to the lip of the crankshaft oil seal, and to the new O-ring (A).
    Fig 14: Dowel Pins, Oil Pump, Baffle Plate, O-Ring And Mounting Bolts With Torque Specification
    G08052324Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  35. Install the dowel pins (B), then align the inner rotor with the crankshaft, and install the oil pump (C).
    NOTE:
    • Wait at least 30 minutes before filling the engine with oil.
    • Do not run the engine for at least 3 hours after installing the oil pump.
  36. Clean the excess oil off the crankshaft, and check that the oil seal lip is not distorted.
  37. Install the baffle plate (D), then install the oil strainer (E) with a new O-ring (F).
  38. Install the rocker arm oil control solenoid/oil filter assembly (A), with a new rocker arm oil control solenoid filter (B).
    Fig 15: Rocker Arm Oil Control Solenoid/Oil Filter Assembly And Mounting Bolts With Torque Specification
    G08052325Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  39. Install the oil pan (see OIL PAN INSTALLATION  ).
  40. Install the timing belt drive pulley to the crankshaft (see TIMING BELT ADJUSTER REPLACEMENT ).
  41. Install the cylinder heads (see CYLINDER HEAD INSTALLATION ).
  42. Install the drive plate (see DRIVE PLATE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION ).
  43. Install the transmission (see DRIVE PLATE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION ).
  44. Install the engine/transmission (see ENGINE INSTALLATION ).
NOTE: When any crankshaft or connecting rod bearing is replaced, run the engine at idle until it reaches normal operating temperature, then continue to run it for about 15 minutes.