Re: Babbit vs Inserts
 

It’s a little hard to adjust end play in a Babbitt engine. I can change crankshaft in my engine easily with inserts, and adjust end play.

Re: Babbit vs Inserts
 

I'm a firm believer of checking clearances on stuff when working the bottom end. The only way to do that is to remove the crankshaft. The other question would be whether or not oversize bearings are available with inserts. Cranks wear too and they have pretty small journals at stock size.

Folks mention Locomotive repair shops and ability to pour babbitt. Steam engine, large industrial engine, and old sea going vessel engine repair facilities generally all have some babbit pouring capability but they do the big stuff that makes model A engines look like tinker toys. Any one can melt babbitt and pour it but a person has to have the tooling and experience to do the Ford model T & A engines. There are a lot of things to know when re-babbitting them that differ greatly from the large stuff.

Re: Babbit vs Inserts
 

Wish I lived closer to Bert's:)

Re: Babbit vs Inserts
 

Ever think of moving?

Re: Babbit vs Inserts
 

At what rpm are these industrial engines etc. running at?

Re: Babbit vs Inserts
 

It depends on the application. Large engines are usually low rpm engines with huge connecting rod and main bearings. The Cooper Bessemer's my brother used to work on ran around 150 rpm but they had a 12 foot diameter flywheel. You could crawl through the cylinders.

Here is a link to a type 26 running.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b78BELn8U2M