Onan Corporation

James I Butcher

Anthony T Klejeski

Curtis D Leaf

A method for assembling and preloading shaft assemblies that are supported by bearings in reciprocating internal combustion engines and the resulting improved shaft assembly. The method is comprised of the steps of: placing a spring element (21) on one end of the shaft (10) wherein said spring element (21) is arranged and configured to fill any gap between the shaft (10) and the bearings (14, 15) that could arise from the accumulation of design tolerances in the shaft assembly components and arranged and configured to always exert a positive load on the shaft (10) to reduce the axial movement of the shaft (10); and securing the shaft (10) between the bearings (14, 15).

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Anoka, MN, United States of America

James I Butcher