Hi there,

The other day (which was more like the other month) I dented a rod bearing with a small screwdriver trying to remove it.
The dent is really small but a tad deep.
I have pictures but it's not really noticeable on them.
I was planning to put everything back together since the plastigage showed me the running clearances were good.



EDIT : of course the question is : can I put it all back like this or do I run a considerable risk of the oil film breaking on it?

Thanks for your help.

Marc

P.S : subsidiary question, can I change the cam without changing the cam bearings? They seem good and it looks like I have lots of chances to have them misaligned no?

your cam bearings should be fine but the rod bearing looks like copper layer is showing or is it just the piture?

I wouldn't worry about the dent, but it does look from the pics like copper is showing. If copper showing, get some new ones...

FWIW, when I put my 64 Dart motor together back in 1993, I dropped a main cap with the bearing and it landed, bearing down, on a big bolt on the floor. Put a >1/2 mm deep rut in the bearing about 6mm long. I dressed it with crocus cloth and bolted it all together. Ran like a champ for 50k miles and a few thousand racing miles with no trouble.

Lou

_________________
Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Well, I think they are a bit worn but since the clearances were good I wanted to keep because... they are 0.012" oversize and I can't seem to find them anymore. If anyone has some to sell, I'd gladly buy them!
Thanks,

Marc

Aside from what has already been said, it is just the high spot around the dent that could be an issue. It can be touched with a bearing scraper (not a common tool these days) or a new razor blade. Very lightly and like a squeege. Just two or three very light strokes, and STOP! Do not try to use wet or dry paper as it will leave abrasive embedded in the bearing.

The way to remove bearings and avoid this is by pushing the side opposite the tang with your thumb and rotating them out of thier seat.

For the amount of work involved and the potential damage, I would just get a new set of bearings if you are at all unsure about what you have.

Again, I can't buy them!

I would not worry about that little ding, it want hurt nothing and the bearings look pretty good. Just make sure there is no high spot around that ding and if there is knock it down with something about the same size at it is, or sand it out but its hard to sand it out and only get the spot needed. A tink with a very small ball penn hammer would do it if need be.


Jess

Unfortunately, the effect produced by this is the same as if the bearing had embedded foreign debris. The material proximal to the damage spreads out and up resulting in localized decreased oil clearance. I would try my best to alleviate this using, perhaps, some of the above suggestions. Install & torque the rod in question and check the torque requied to rotate the crank.

Mitch

This is a slant motor,bolt it,torque it,run it,probably will only be good for a 100,000 miles though.my opinion,mark