Question about plastigauge

christian

christian

Senior Member
I recently honed my cylinders and installed new rings. Now have everything assembled and want to set the rod bearings. Was going to use the foil method, but there's too much drag from the freshly honed cylinders and rings to discern the proper clearance. Decided to use plastigauge. My question is, does the plastigauge go lengthwise along the crank bearing, or perpendicular along the bearing ??
 
christian said:
I recently honed my cylinders and installed new rings. Now have everything assembled and want to set the rod bearings. Was going to use the foil method, but there's too much drag from the freshly honed cylinders and rings to discern the proper clearance. Decided to use plastigauge. My question is, does the plastigauge go lengthwise along the crank bearing, or perpendicular along the bearing ??
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Torque to 40 foot pounds, and then pull for lock pin.
 

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That takes a lot of time to take those and then post. Great pics Herm.


christian, just remove the plastigauge when finished.
 
christian said:
Was going to use the foil method, but there's too much drag from the freshly honed cylinders and rings to discern the proper clearance.
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Basically, with the foil method you remove a shim until it does not move any more with the foil, remove foil and your done, it either moves or it does not there is no middle ground.
 
Here's another question... If I remove the cap and see that the clearance is too great, can I simply remove a shim, and re compress the same piece of plastigauge ?
 
Red, those are 1/8, or 3/16 drill bit holes. That is the way I remove weight when balanceing rods. We don't grind on them.
 

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If you use Plastigauge make sure it's fresh. If it's old it gets hard and can inbed into the babbett dry or oiled. Using it dry as it says on the package may work fine for modern shell bearings but I find a very light coating of oil is needed to help it spread.
 
redmodelt said:
If you use Plastigauge make sure it's fresh. If it's old it gets hard and can inbed into the babbett dry or oiled. Using it dry as it says on the package may work fine for modern shell bearings but I find a very light coating of oil is needed to help it spread.
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I'll second the "fresh" comment on the Plastigauge. It will dent the babbit if its not, and you readings will be off. Ask me how I know!
 
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Finding fresh Plasigage locally is hard to do, even if the parts clerk knows what it is. (I was asked Plastic gage? What is that?) But either Brattons, or Snyders, don't recall which, sells it in a plastic slip cover which keeps it fresh.
 
PC/SR said:
Finding fresh Plasigage locally is hard to do, even if the parts clerk knows what it is. (I was asked Plastic gage? What is that?) But either Brattons, or Snyders, don't recall which, sells it in a plastic slip cover which keeps it fresh.
Click to expand...

I found it at Carquest. Don't know how big their territory is.
 
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