VF39 blades hitting housing? Help

TurboLegacy · 10-03-2012, 09:05 PM

I have not dealt with many turbos before and I just purchased this used off of craigslist. It seems to have very little shaft play but these marks around the blades worry me. Is this normal or should I ask for a refund. Thanks in advance. I re-sized these but they are still big.

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rdieder · 10-03-2012, 11:28 PM

Refund , its gonna blow up sooner or later

StealthTL · 10-03-2012, 11:30 PM

If it touches, it lunches.

Any contact is dead bearings.

STIBungy · 10-04-2012, 02:17 AM

Its fine. I have a used vf39 in my garage and looks just like that.

WMCCook29 · 10-04-2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthTL

If it touches, it lunches.

Any contact is dead bearings.

Contact can be perfectly acceptable in a turbo that has no oil flowing through it. The oil acts as a cushion between the bearings and the shaft and when there's no oil there can be slight contact between the blades and the housing.

Frank-i-e · 10-04-2012, 08:33 AM

You're going to be perfectly fine. What you should be worried about more is if you see pieces missing off the compressor. As long as there isn't too much drag. It appears to be very minimal.

TurboLegacy · 10-04-2012, 09:20 AM

After looking at all the ads for vf's on here the marks seem to be normal. The pictures are a bit deceiving as it makes it appear the blades are touching the housing, they have a mm or so of clearance.

gutie04 · 10-04-2012, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WMCCook29

Contact can be perfectly acceptable in a turbo that has no oil flowing through it. The oil acts as a cushion between the bearings and the shaft and when there's no oil there can be slight contact between the blades and the housing.

This is correct. You really should put a little oil in the drain side, and rotate the turbine. Prop it up so the oil has a chance to distributed through the bearing cartridge. Let it sit for a day or so and repeat. It will eventually get enough in there to re center the cartritge. I had to do this after an old vf-39 sat for a few months. If it is going to stay in storage put some caps on everything after the oiling.

Frank-i-e · 10-04-2012, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gutie04

This is correct. You really should put a little oil in the drain side, and rotate the turbine. Prop it up so the oil has a chance to distributed through the bearing cartridge. Let it sit for a day or so and repeat. It will eventually get enough in there to re center the cartritge. I had to do this after an old vf-39 sat for a few months. If it is going to stay in storage put some caps on everything after the oiling.

This is correct too, oil fills up voids and the play is more when turbo is dry. Minimal difference but true!

luvless2620 · 10-04-2012, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdieder

Refund , its gonna blow up sooner or later

Do you even know what a VF39 looks like?

TurboLegacy · 10-04-2012, 03:26 PM

GOOD NEW!! I took it to a turbo rebuild shop to get a professional opinion and they said the end play was normal! The marks are caused by running high flow filters that allow tiny particles to pass into the turbo and said it is nothing to worry about. Thanks again everyone.

LBell05STI · 10-04-2012, 03:52 PM

I call BS. Shaft play is shaft play. How much in and out and side to side play do you have?

TurboLegacy · 10-04-2012, 04:11 PM

Zero in and out, side to side is very little. He also said because it was a thrust bearing with no oil there would be a tiny bit as mine showed, once pressurized with oil he said there would be none. I could try to get a dial indicator hooked up to it, but I tend to believe somone who works with turbos every day when he tells me that it is a good turbo.

10-03-2012, 09:05 PM	#1
TurboLegacy Scooby Newbie Member#: 82068 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rapid City SD Vehicle: 1992 Legacy Maroon	VF39 blades hitting housing? Help I have not dealt with many turbos before and I just purchased this used off of craigslist. It seems to have very little shaft play but these marks around the blades worry me. Is this normal or should I ask for a refund. Thanks in advance. I re-sized these but they are still big. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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10-03-2012, 11:28 PM	#2
rdieder Scooby Newbie Member#: 257818 Join Date: Sep 2010 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: ABQ, NM Vehicle: 2007 STi CGM	Refund , its gonna blow up sooner or later

10-03-2012, 11:30 PM	#3
StealthTL Scooby Newbie Member#: 206912 Join Date: Mar 2009 Chapter/Region: International Location: Waaaaay North Vehicle: 2006 Forester XT DGM	If it touches, it lunches. Any contact is dead bearings.

10-04-2012, 02:17 AM	#4
STIBungy Scooby Specialist Member#: 51684 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Denver, CO Vehicle: 2004 Impreza WRX STI PSM	Its fine. I have a used vf39 in my garage and looks just like that.

10-04-2012, 08:33 AM	#6
Frank-i-e Scooby Newbie Member#: 316463 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: San Marcos, Texas Vehicle: 2005 STi Obsidian Black Pearl	You're going to be perfectly fine. What you should be worried about more is if you see pieces missing off the compressor. As long as there isn't too much drag. It appears to be very minimal.

10-04-2012, 09:20 AM	#7
TurboLegacy Scooby Newbie Member#: 82068 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rapid City SD Vehicle: 1992 Legacy Maroon	After looking at all the ads for vf's on here the marks seem to be normal. The pictures are a bit deceiving as it makes it appear the blades are touching the housing, they have a mm or so of clearance.

10-04-2012, 03:26 PM	#11
TurboLegacy Scooby Newbie Member#: 82068 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rapid City SD Vehicle: 1992 Legacy Maroon	GOOD NEW!! I took it to a turbo rebuild shop to get a professional opinion and they said the end play was normal! The marks are caused by running high flow filters that allow tiny particles to pass into the turbo and said it is nothing to worry about. Thanks again everyone.

10-04-2012, 03:52 PM	#12
LBell05STI Scooby Newbie Member#: 305890 Join Date: Jan 2012 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Tacoma, Wa Vehicle: 2005 STI WRB	I call BS. Shaft play is shaft play. How much in and out and side to side play do you have?

10-04-2012, 04:11 PM	#13
TurboLegacy Scooby Newbie Member#: 82068 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rapid City SD Vehicle: 1992 Legacy Maroon	Zero in and out, side to side is very little. He also said because it was a thrust bearing with no oil there would be a tiny bit as mine showed, once pressurized with oil he said there would be none. I could try to get a dial indicator hooked up to it, but I tend to believe somone who works with turbos every day when he tells me that it is a good turbo.