PURPOSE: To restrain the wear and damage of a crankshaft or the like by retaining a part of front and rear thrust metals for restraining the forward and rearward movement of the crankshaft to the front and rear surfaces of an intermediate bearing case that is fitted to a bearing frame integrally with the crankcase, so that the backlash in the front and rear direction of the crankshaft can be reduced.

CONSTITUTION: In an in-line multiple cylinder engine, a plurality of cylinders 2, 3 are juxtaposed in the front and rear direction inside a cylinder block 1, and an intermediate bearing case 9 that has been externally fitted to the crank journal 8 of a crankshaft 7 is internally fitted and fixed to a bearing case fitting hole 6 of a bearing frame 5 of an integral structure that has been supported inside a crankcase 4. In this case, a pair of thrust metals 10, 11 for restraining the forward and rearward movement of the crankshaft 7 are supported by the front and rear surfaces 12, 13 of the intermediate bearing case 9. And the front and rear end parts 14, 15 of the crankshaft 7 are journaled by the bearing holes 18, 19 bored in the front and rear walls 16, 17 of the crankcase 4. And the wall 17 on one side out of the front and rear walls 16, 17 of the crankcase 4 is detachably formed, and this is fitted via a gasket 22.