Connecting Rod side play or clearance

[Woodie1]

I have an engine that I have had new bearing poured for the mains. The shop felt my old rods still had usable babbit. My question is, what amount of side play or side clearance would you accept? I have one rod that has .025 clearance. I see in Les Andrews book he calls for .008-.015. What's your thoughts? The shop that did the work thinks the rods are good. Thanks for the input.

[Kohnke Rebabbitting]

Originally Posted by Woodie1

I have an engine that I have had new bearing poured for the mains. The shop felt my old rods still had usable babbit. My question is, what amount of side play or side clearance would you accept? I have one rod that has .025 clearance. I see in Les Andrews book he calls for .008-.015. What's your thoughts? The shop that did the work thinks the rods are good. Thanks for the input.

The Model A rod width should be 1.620, but we found out that, -.002 thousandths more caught all the cranks. Never go over .012, as that is wore out.

The other thing is get the rods Aligned, by somebody that can check for Twist, Bend, and Offset. If you don't, you are going to get premature wear, or worse.

Herm.

[Jim Brierley]

I run .020" on my Bonneville engine, about .010-.012 on my speedster engine. This is more than I would aim for on a touring engine but you should have no problems at .025".

[Woodie1]

After further checking today, I find the side clearance to be .035. Trouble is I don't know if it's the crank itself that is worn. I miked the width of the cap & it was 1.59. I wanted to try another cap on the journal but I don't have a used one sized right to set in & take another measurement.

[PC/SR]

Do check the clearance between the rod small end and the piston as it slides on the pin.

[Woodie1]

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I think I'm going to try new rods & see if that solves the clearance issue.