Connecting rod squirt holes?

[nm9stheham]

I just measure them between the rods for a 2 rod per throw engine. Sometimes the edges on the crank journals don't seem high enough to get consistent readings.

If your pistons are swapped bank to bank as implied earlier with the oiling hole situation, then this will throw off the radius locations on the edges of the rods.... as AJ was saying.

Also, the ground sides on the rod big ends are not centered on the centerline of the small end; the big end is offset slightly sideways from the small end in the LA rods. So that may also contribute to erratic side clearance readings if the rods are reversed side to side.

 

[yellow rose]

Side clearance is ONLY a factor considering oil control if you have socks on a rooster bearing clearances. If your clearances are under .0035 then you can open the side clearance up to .080 and it won't make any difference. Keep your bearing clearance correct for power level, RPM and oil grade and don't worry about side clearance.

Leave the fly poop in the pepper. You'll never know its there.

 

[perfacar]

Well, that's right, there is only one gap per pair. I was pushing each pair to the right, measuriing the gap on the left, and then vice a versa. In other words, the gap for each pair varied between .014" and .025", depending on which side of the crank journal i was using. Actually, I don't see why the measurement can't just be taken between the rods themselves, which is what I was also trying and the result was pretty much the same.

I looked and rod side clearance is always measured between two rods. in other words, push rods apart, then measure clearance. it's a more honest measurement.

 

[krazykuda]

I looked and rod side clearance is always measured between two rods. in other words, push rods apart, then measure clearance. it's a more honest measurement.

This is how to do it. ^^^

The only way to change side play is in the machining. If the crank journal is the correct width, and the rods are the correct width, then you will have good side play. It it's too loose, then check the rod width first, then the crank journal width next....

You can't shim for excess side play....

 

[moper]

A few hints..
Don't hit the stamps too hard when you number them.
The bearing tangs are always facing each other - that's the alignment thing mentioned earlier...
The squirt hole is meaningless, so if the new bearings don't have the notch don;t worry about it.
Rod side clearance is only important if it's tight. Loose side clearance means nothing, and historically more side clearance has meant a faster engine.
Measure as was said: push the pair of rods apart and measure the gap in the middle. If it's under .006" you're too tight. Otherwise anything goes IMO.