Insert bearings can't do this.

J and M Machine

Senior Member
These pictures I am posting represent an interesting aspect of Babbitted bearings versus inserts.
This engine was done by another shop and though the babbitt work was Ok. The dirt impregnation from assembly and running tells another tale.
This engine has 1200 miles on it, reason it came to us is customer wants to put stroker crank in it.

It's interesting since there's always two sides to the arguement of insert versus babbitted bearings.

These pictures show how well babbitt is able to "Digest" the dirt in the engine and still perform with a bearing surface of sorts.

The debris is glass beads with a mixture of iron and brass.

Naturally this is worst case senario but even still the babbitt survived.
I couldn't say that for inserts or the crank in same situation.
 

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I can see where the iron and brass could come from, but where did the glass beads come from.
 
I can see where the iron and brass could come from, but where did the glass beads come from.

Probably glass bleaded the block to clean it, & didn't get all the glass bleads cleaned out before assembly. And it got in the oil. Or just dust from where blasting was done close to the engine block.
 
It's essential to wash out a block after the machining has been done. I use Dove dish soap and a spoke brush on the cylinders, and a dishwashing brush on the crankcase, then hose it all down good with fresh water, and finally blow it out with compressed air. I might miss some, but I've never noticed anything.
 
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