whats the definition of engine end-play?
 

I was doing a search for unorthodox pulley installation threads and a couple people posted that if you do not torque the main bolt properly (180-200 ft-lb) the engine end play will be messed up and something goes wrong with the oil..........
what does that mean?

The front hub keeps the eccentric shaft pulled up against the torrington bearing of the front cover. If you loosen this hub without wedging the e-shaft from the flywheel end you can cause really, really bad stuff to happen :(

Check it out at the Mazdatrix site here

that part i understand but it seemed like they were saying that if you dont get the torque exactly within spec, you are screwed.

If you change pullys and the bearing falls out of place then you are screwed, and no one has kissed you. if the bearing is in place then you are to good and no one will tell you so. The question was on end play. Pull the crank foward all the way, then push it back all the way . The slop you feel is measured as end play. You measure it with a dial indicator. If you trap the bearing there is still end play but the bearing is screwed . .Still no one will kiss you .

suppose the bearing is in place and everything is done right.....if i torque the main bolt to only 170 ft-lb , is that a problem?

What is the stock torque ? you should put it there so it will not come out. If you can not get it that tight AND the end play is good , atleast put lock tight on it .You should be able to get to the lower spec torque. I would guess that if it was 170 lbs and had lock tight it would not come loose, good skill, do not trust luck .

thanks for your replies. i think my question is halfway answered at least. if it bothers me some more, ill try to find the original thread i was talking about.

The 92 FD manual has two different torque values in different places..

The correct one is on page C-74 where it tells how to measure and adjust end play. 79.6 to 97.6ftlbs.

Page C-73 and C-76 shows 180-200.

If you followed C-74 to adjust your end play then used C-73/76 values, that would hose the previous process.

I use page C-74.

Does anyone have a later manual, and what does it show???

i think the consensus is 180-200 but ill have to doublecheck my manual.