Crankshaft Italkit Minarelli horizontal Connecting rod machined b.12mm 85mm

Italkit Crankshaft with a machined 85 mm connecting rod and a 12 mm wrist pin for horizontal Minarelli engines.

When you increase displacement and the engine starts operating at higher RPM and under greater load, the original crankshaft can become one of the weak points in the build.

Unlike a standard crankshaft, this Italkit features a machined connecting rod, a more robust solution designed to better withstand the stresses generated by a tuned engine. In practice, this means greater strength at high RPM and a wider safety margin when you fit higher-performance cylinders, exhausts, or carburetors.

The key difference in this version is the 85 mm connecting rod. Being longer than the usual size, it allows for a different engine geometry and can help reduce the connecting rod working angle during the piston stroke. This reduces part of the lateral thrust on the piston and cylinder, something especially valuable in engines that operate at high revs and with demanding builds.

However, a longer connecting rod also changes the position of the piston inside the cylinder. For that reason, when fitting this crankshaft, it is necessary to shim the base of the cylinder to restore the correct assembly height and leave the piston in the proper position relative to the cylinder head.

That adjustment is not just a matter of installation. Modifying the cylinder height also changes the squish, so it is essential to measure and correct it before starting the engine. A squish that is too tight can cause the piston to contact the cylinder head, while one that is too wide can worsen combustion and reduce performance.

What does the 85 mm connecting rod provide?

• Greater connecting rod length for specific high-performance setups.
• A smaller connecting rod working angle during part of the piston stroke.
• Less lateral thrust on the piston and cylinder.
• A more suitable foundation for engines operating at high RPM.
• More scope for developing Racing setups with specific engine geometries.

Features

• Wrist pin: 12 mm.
• Connecting rod length: 85 mm.
• Connecting rod type: machined.
• Application: horizontal Minarelli.
• Product: crankshaft.

Important: this crankshaft with an 85 mm connecting rod must not be installed as a direct replacement without checking the engine geometry. It is necessary to calculate the corresponding cylinder shim and measure the squish once the assembly has been installed. Depending on the cylinder, piston, and cylinder head used, it may also be necessary to correct other installation dimensions.