Crankshaft definition

A crankshaft is a mechanical part that transforms the reciprocating movement of the piston into rotational motion and turns the vehicle wheels. It is connected to the piston through a connecting rod. The main.
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A crankshaft is a mechanical part that transforms the reciprocating movement of the piston into rotational motion and turns the vehicle wheels. It is connected to the piston through a connecting rod. The main...

Definition of crankshaft. 1 : a shaft driven by or driving a crank. 2 : a shaft consisting of a series of cranks and crankpins to which the connecting rods of an engine are attached.

Britannica : Encyclopedia article about crankshaft

Crankshafts can be in welded, semi-integral, or one-piece structures. This part of the engine attaches the output section of the engine to the input section.

Read More: Working of Connecting Rod?Construction of Crankshaft

The crankshaft design varies according to the engine type, but maximum crankshafts contain multiple main bearing journals, counterweights, and crank throws. The counterweight assists in balancing the rotational forces, while the main bearing journals ensure the smooth rotation of the crankshaft within the engine block.

Read More: Different Types of EnginesParts of Crankshaft

The parts of the crankshaft are given below: Main JournalCrankshaft PulleyOil PasswaysBalance HoleCounterweightCrankshaft Lubrication

1) Main Journal

The main bearing journal is attached to the engine block. All crankshaft journals are very hardened, rounded, and smooth. The main journal is settled in the saddle, where a replaceable bearing insert can be placed. 

The bearing is softer compared to the main journals, and these can change when it wears. The bearing designs are used to capture a small volume of impurities (if any) to prevent the crankshafts from damage.

Read Also: Different Types of Internal Combustion (IC) Engines2) Connecting Rod Journal

The connecting rod journal is offset from the axis of rotation and connected to the larger end of the piston rod.

Read Also: Bad Oil Pan Symptoms and Causes7) Crankshaft Pulley

The crankshaft pulley is also known as a crankshaft sheave or harmonic balance. It is a grooved, wheel-shaped unit that directly couples with the crank of the car. It links to other parts of your vehicle through the accessory belt. What are the reasons of a damaged Crankshaft?

The most common reasons for the crankshaft break are given below:

Read Also: Working of Camshaft Camshaft Vs Crankshaft

The major difference between a crankshaft and a camshaft is given below:

There are two types of engines

The reciprocating engines are designed in such a way that they can''t work without a piston and crankshaft. While a Wankel engine works with the help of a rotor, and doesn''t need a piston and crankshaft.

The crankshaft is connected to the camshaft via a chain or timing gear. The crank transfers its motion to the camshaft via this timing gear.  As the camshaft receives rotary motion from the crankshaft, it uses this motion to open and close the inlet and exhaust valves.

A two-stroke engine doesn''t have a camshaft. The only 4-stroke engine uses it to open and close the exhaust and inlet valves.

Make sure the ignition is ON only when the engine light is ON, and other indications are minimal.

If your vehicle stops one or two times, or you face acceleration jerks after starting the vehicle, you can drive but need to take it to the workshop. If the problem is more serious, driving can cause serious engine damage, which can increase repair costs.

Therefore, if your car''s crankshaft sensor is damaged, you should replace or repair it as soon as possible for the excellent working of your engine.

Almost 99% of V8 engines have only one crankshaft.

completely informative for upcoming engineers

Read Also: What is Single Cylinder Engine? Its Parts, Working [Petrol & Diesel]

These types of crankshafts are not made by assembling various parts compared to a fully built shaft. Crank webs are completely forged and are shrink-fitted to the general bearings.

A balanced crankshaft can keep your engine running smoothly, provide more power, less waste of energy, and reduce engine vibration. It is mainly employed to convert linear motion to rotational speed.


I hope that I have covered everything about crankshafts. If you have any doubts about this article on "crankshaft parts and function" you can ask in the comments. If you liked this article, please share it with your friends.

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Wow. Very clear explanation of the various parts and manufacturing processes. Very helpful to a fellow engineer (HVAC) just learning about the internals of engines. Thank you very much for making this available.

About Crankshaft definition

About Crankshaft definition

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