On April 10, 2017, Clarence convinced me that we really should look into the oil pan and see what happened when I had started the engine back on January 6th. I reluctantly agreed, knowing full well that what we were going to see was something between ugly and really really ugly. Um…… it was ugly.
Clarence shows me the grit in the oil strainer.
And it got uglier when we pulled off the oil pan.
Oil pan full of ground up bearing material, concentrated below #3 cylinder.
The #3 rod bearing was gone. It had been ground up into crumbs and small chunks. Sally & Clarence left for home the next day and I was left with the knowledge that I had properly guessed a rod issue. But that didn’t make me any happier. I removed the rod cap on #3 and pulled the rod and piston down and out past the crank shaft journal.
Number 3 connecting rod and piston
This is what a rod bearing and rod bearing in a cap are supposed to look like:
Rod bearing alone & rod bearing in rod cap, with shims wired to cap
That was the “before” photo. This is the “after” photo:
Munched & crunched rod bearings – minus the oil.
Oh dear – what to do next?
craig if you don’t have anyone in your area to pour you new bearings I had a fellow in eastern washington pour them for me on a 1913 Michigan 40 he does nice work but a little slow if you want more info let me know just got them back in june chris
July 16, 2017
Hello Chris – I haven’t had my rod bearings done yet. Always interested in learning who and where this can be done. Is the Michigan yours? If not, who are the owners?
I am trying to put together an accurate inventory of the existing cars and their serial numbers & engine numbers. Please let me know. My regular email is: craig.correll@gmail.com or call me at (760)434-7010. Thanks! Looking forward to hearing from you.