RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Replacement shaft is $55.99 @ Tower.
Or, pull the crank. Place it in a V-block on the large journal. Use a .0001" indicator on the end of the small journal and find the high spot by rotating the crank in the v-block. clamp the large journal in the v-block. Hit the high spot with a brass hammer on the small journal. Some times a brass rod held against the small journal hit with any small hammer works. The crank is only hardened at the rod pin and prop threads, the rest is file soft, so it will bend back. Repeat the above procedure until runout is within .0001" to .0003" ( sometimes the error is due to roundness not runout ).
Did this several times in my learning days of flying and it worked well. Sometimes the engines tacked higher rpm's because they were straighter than original.
I have done this 3 times and never had a problem with the engines. ( all 3 were K&B .40 )
The risk is losing a already bent shaft.