babbit clearances

[rdscouple]

I'm plastiguaging babbit bearings. One rod bearing measures .001 in the front and .002 in the back. Should I try to fix this somehow or will it be ok?

 

[MikeK]

If the Babbitt wear is tapered, either the rod is twisted or the crank has the throws ground off-axis. Fix the problem, not the symptom. In any case, if the engine is well used and has run with the slightly tapered clearance without problem, why would you want to increase that clearance on one side only, shifting load and wear from it's present pattern to a new contact pattern on one thrust side only?

 

[MN Stumpjumper]

Maybe he didn't get the answer he wanted! HaHa

 

[V4F]

do you have shims left ? pull one shim from one side & recheck .

 

[fordfixer]

Pulling a shim will not correct the problem. The bearing needs scrapping or the use of a lapping compound to correct. And this all depends on the amount babbit left and the amount of shims still being used.

 

[rdscouple]

My Mickey Mouse fix.....
I took out one .001 shim, cut it in half, and installed the two pieces on the front end of the shim pack and torqued it down. The bearing is now .015 on both ends.