Centinel System – Repair Manual – 001-005   Bearings, Connecting Rod

CAUTION  Connecting rod bearings must match the connecting rod design. Drilled rods must use drilled rod bearings. Non-drilled rods must use non-drilled bearings. Mismatches will cause engine damage.

Connecting rod design
must be matched with the proper connecting rod bearing.

Drilled connecting rods
must be fitted with drilled connecting rod bearings.

Non-drilled connecting rods
must be fitted with non-drilled connecting rod bearings.

Drilled and non-drilled connecting rods can be mixed in the same engine as long as the two piece piston is used.

Engines using single piece pistons can
not use non-drilled connecting rods.

CAUTION  The connecting rod and bearing shell mating surfaces must be clean and dry when the bearing shells are installed. Used bearings must be installed in their original location or engine damage can occur.

Use clean Lubriplate™ 105 multi-purpose lubricant, or its equivalent to lubricate the crankshaft journal mating surface of the upper bearing shell.

Install the upper bearing shell into the connecting rod with the tang of the bearing in the slot of the rod.

Install the bearing shell into the connecting rod cap with the tang (2) of the bearing in the slot (1) of the cap.

Use clean Lubriplate™ 105 multi-purpose lubricant, or its equivalent to lubricate the bearing shell to crankshaft journal mating surface and the connecting rod capscrews.

CAUTION  The rod cap alpha characters must match the alpha characters on the connecting rod and must be installed with the characters aligned to prevent damage to the connecting rods and crankshaft. The locking tang of the connecting rod cap must face toward the intake side of the cylinder block. Rod and cap mating surfaces must be clean or engine damage can occur.

Install the cap onto the connecting rod.

Lubricate the threads of the capscrews with clean engine oil.

Thread the capscrews into the connecting rod and hand tighten.

The procedure for tightening used capscrews is different than the procedure for tightening new capscrews.

For used connecting rod capscrews:

Tighten Capscrews in Numerical Sequence

For new connecting rod capscrews:

Tighten Capscrews in Numerical Sequence

Measure the connecting rod side clearance.

NOTE: The connecting rod
must move freely from side to side on the crankshaft journal. If the rod does
not move freely, remove the rod cap and make sure the bearing shells are the correct size. Check for dirt or damage on the crankshaft and the bearing shells.

Repeat the above steps to install the remaining bearing shells and connecting rod caps.