Crank fix in Calgary?

[commuter boy]

I went to look at a 95 Passat wagon for sale in Calgary.  It's got the AAZ crank keyway issue and needs a new clutch.

Are there any shops in Calgary who are competent to pull the crank and get it machined/welded to take the TDI style crank gear?

Conversely, is there anyone repairing AAZ cranks that has one already machined on the shelf and would ship it out and then refund a core charge when I ship the old crank back to them?

I'm thinking there could be some labour savings if the clutch work could be done at the same time as the crank.

[andy2]

http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3347

Sounds like he still has cranks on the shelf ready to ship.

[jtanguay]

apparently what some guys do is machine the opposite end of the crank.. and by machine i mean grind while the crank is still IN the car  :wink: doesn't have to be too perfect just keep taking off till the crank pulley fits i suppose...  but i do believe there might be a write-up floating around.

[commuter boy]

You need a good jig to do it, and you certainly won't get a press fit with the gear.  I'd really hate to let someone loose at it who hasn't done it before.

I pinned the crank myself on my other AAZ Passat, but I'd like to do this one right and have it as a keeper I don't have to worry about.

[jtanguay]

with my TDI, the crank gear goes on loose enough... definitely not a press fit  :wink: as long as there's enough meat to stop it from slipping you *should* be fine.  the 1.6's do alright and they don't have the extra protection from the crank slippage.  in fact, the 1.9's should be ok but most people don't use the proper torquing procedure.  your money would be better spent with the clutched alternator pulley IMO (which is most likely the root cause of crank failures).  but to each their own.