Basic Engine
FIG. 50 Typical Thrust Bearing Alignment
6. Push the connecting rod and piston assembly out the
CONNECTING ROD BEARING
top of the cylinder with the handle end of a hammer.
Removal
Avoid damage to the crankpin or the cylinder wall
1. Follow steps I and 2 under Main Bearing
when removing the piston and rod.
Replacement.
Installation
2. Turn the crankshaft until the connecting rod to which
1. Clean the oil pump inlet tube screen and the oil pan
new bearings are to be fitted is down. Remove the
and block gasket surfaces.
connecting rod cap. Remove the bearing inserts from
2. Oil the piston rings, pistons and cylinder walls with
the rod and cap.
light engine oil.
Installation
3. Be sure to install the pistons in the same cylinders
1. Be sure the bearing inserts and the bearing bore in
from which they were removed, or to which they were
the connecting rod and cap are clean. Foreign
fitted. The connecting rods and bearing caps are
material under the inserts will distort the bearing and
numbered from I to 6, beginning at the front of the
cause a failure.
engine. The numbers on the connecting rod and
2. Clean crankshaft journal. When replacing standard
bearing cap must be on the same side when installed
bearings with new bearings, fit the bearing to
in the cylinder bore. If a connecting rod is transferred
minimum specified clearance.
from one block or cylinder to another, new bearings
3. Install the bearing inserts in the connecting rod and
should be fitted and the connecting rod should be
cap with the tangs fitted in the slots provided.
numbered to correspond with the new cylinder.
4. Pull the connecting rod assembly down firmly on the
4. Make sure the ring gaps are properly spaced around
crankshaft journal.
the circumference of the piston (Figure 51). Install a
5. Select fit the bearings for proper clearance following
piston ring compressor on the piston and push the
procedures under Fitting Main and Connecting Rod
piston in with a hammer handle until it is slightly
Bearings.
below the top of the cylinder (Figure 52). Be sure to
6. After the bearing has been fitted, clean and apply a
guide the connecting rods to avoid damaging the
light coat of engine oil SE to the journal and bearings.
crankshaft journals. Install the piston with the notch
Install connecting rod cap. Be sure connecting rod
in the dome of the piston toward the front of the
bolt heads are properly seated in connecting rod.
engine (Figure 54).
Torque nuts to specifications.
5. Check the clearance of each bearing, following the
7. Repeat the procedure for the remaining connecting
procedure under Connecting Rod Bearings.
rods that require new bearings.
6. After the bearings have been fitted, apply a light coat
8. Install the oil pump assembly and oil pan following
of engine oil to the journals and bearings.
the procedure under Main Bearings.
PISTONS AND CONNECTING RODS
Removal
1. Drain the cooling system and the crankcase.
2. Refer to Cylinder Head Removal and remove the
cylinder head and related parts.
3. Remove the oil pan and related parts. Remove the
oil pump inlet tube and the oil pump.
4. Turn the crankshaft until the piston to be removed is
at the bottom of the stroke, then place a cloth on the
piston head to collect the cuttings. Remove any ridge
and/or deposits from the upper end of the cylinder
bores with a ridge cutter. Follow the instructions
furnished by the tool manufacturer. Never cut into the
ring travel area in excess of 1/32 inch when removing
ridges.
5. Make sure all the connecting rod cops are marked so
that they can be installed in their original positions.
Remove the connecting rod cap.
FIG. 51 Piston Ring Gap Spacing
1-25
