I'm rebuilding a motorcycle engine right now and the crank axial freeplay is supposed to be .002 to .0039 inches of freeplay. I measured it with a dial indicator and got about .0042". Do you think that is ok? The indicator was mounted with this device...well I can't really explain it but basically it's not a completely solid device. I suppose there could be a little error in that, but it was designed to be used with the dial indicator so you'd think that there is no error in it. Anyways you think .0042 is ok? What would be the consequences of there being too much play?

It'll blow up. :)

Call up cycle engine building shop for your specific setup and see if its acceptable. If your measuring equipment is not upto the task of tenthou, don't rely on it, b/c your factory of error could be out of range of acceptable tolerances.

It'll blow up. :)

Call up cycle engine building shop for your specific setup and see if its acceptable. If your measuring equipment is not upto the task of tenthou, don't rely on it, b/c your factory of error could be out of range of acceptable tolerances.
ah nuts. Well thanks.

by the way, I don't know if axial is the right term.... the play side to side. I'm pretty sure it's called axial, right?

pic of the shim chart and a picture of the device i used. It's flexible until you tighten that red arm then it gets stiff.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/hammdy/DSC00753.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/hammdy/DSC00754.jpg

Yep, axial play is correct.
.0003 doesn't sound like a lot... did you mic the old thrust bearings against the new ones just to make sure they were the right size?

You might get a little better reading with a solid mount. (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000DD0VA.01-A3TQ3OIW6NTQKL._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)