Mystery Crankshaft

[Mark Chaffin]

I located this beautiful counterbalanced billet crankshaft and would like to see if anyone may know who may have manufactured it. I was unable to locate a name on the crankshaft other than a faint number 1103. The main journals measure 1.625. The rod journals measure 1.480. Stroke is 4". The journals are protected by a protective coating. It appear to be in new condition. Thanks for your assistance.

[Mark Chaffin]

Also forgot to mention. It has been cross drilled for oil pressure.

[Les Schubert]

All I can offer is that I would certainly use it!!

[StanHowe]

WE NEED A "LIKE" BUTTON!!

[Wayne Sheldon]

Beautiful! And very interesting.
-Warning- Looks like I may be the "downer" for the day.
But,I don't think I like the method of cross-drilling for pressurized oiling. Given the position of the holes I can see, it is multiple intersecting paths, which remove more internal material with greater exposure to outer surfaces. Such a "lattice" of drilling creates more potential fracture points than simple single angled drilling (IF such single drilling is practicable, which looks to me like it could have been done?).

Worse. I don't like the looks of a couple of the radius cuts on the end of the journals. The worst one looks to be the rear of the center main (almost square). A couple others don't look bad? but the transition from plane to plane is not smooth enough.

If it were mine? I don't think I could resist using it. And it would probably run a long time. But I wouldn't be surprised when it broke either.

[Dan McEachern]

Mark- I believe I have an identical crank minus the cross drilling on the rod journals.
Dan

[Mike Penserini]

I have a similar crankshaft with no counterweights and a 3 inch stroke.

[T4Tom]

Are any of those Fronty cranks?

[Kohnke Rebabbitting]

No. one picture, looks like it has been ground up to the Radius, and left a right angle. Closer pictures would take the guess work out of it.

I was looking at No. 1 Pin, the closest Radius, to the front of the crank.

Here was one of the Model T cranks that, Vern, at Arnold Motor, in Fort Dodge, Iowa Ground. His cranks were perfect in every way.

Herm.

[Mark Chaffin]

I want to say it is almost identical to the bottom picture Tom posted above. It looks very similar.

[Kevin_m]

I am fuzzy on the details, but that kinda looks like a "Joe Morris" (?) crankshaft. I have one in my speedster, but it has been over 25 years since I've seen it (fortunately). I hear they have problems. Hope others will chime in with better info. I think Joe resided somewhere in the California Sierra foothills.

[Kevin Pharis]

I am fuzzy on the details, but that kinda looks like a "Joe Morris" (?) crankshaft. I have one in my speedster, but it has been over 25 years since I've seen it (fortunately). I hear they have problems. Hope others will chime in with better info. I think Joe resided somewhere in the California Sierra foothills.

The Joe Morris cranks were very similar in appearance to this crank... but were fabricated from multiple pieces and welded together. Joe made no attempt to hide his assembly process and his cranks are instantly recognizable

[Mark Chaffin]

Lots of very good information provided. Thank you very much.

[Ujustwaite]

Hi Friends,

I know it has been some time since this thread was alive, but I recently came into possession of what I believe is a Joe Morris crankshaft inside of an engine block that is bored .080 over with aluminum pistons. It matches the description of the welded / press fit construction. Images of the block and crank were posted on Facebook from the guy I bought it from and people there identified it as a Joe Morris crank. I have a Roof 'C' racing head that will ultimately pair with this after I complete my current Roof BB project.

Best,

Brian

[TXGOAT2]

Why put grooves in the mains? I'd put them in the babbitt, not the crank. Much better than stock, regardless.

[Dan McEachern]

That is certainly a Joe Morris crank or one made to his design. Joes 1st made cranks for 2 cylinder Reo engines and then expanded the idea to a model T crank. After Joe stopped making them, a few were made by the fellow that worked with Joe. More than a few were made with almost no fillet in the rear main that resulted in snapped off flanges. Their solution at the time appeared to make the flanges thicker, which did nothing to solve the initial problem. Some were drilled for oil to the rod journals. If you decide to run it, just be aware of the reality of a multiple piece crankshaft.

[Ujustwaite]

Thanks Dan! Is there a good place to look for history / documentation of Joe's work? Did he have a machine shop as a profession or was he a hobbyist? I'd be really interested in reading up on him. Yes, understand the concerns about potential failure. May just get a scat and keep this for history...or not.