new rod and main bearings come with what looks like a porous/semi-porous inner surface. i was playing with some of my old rod bearings(which were not removed because of failure) and decided to polish them up with some mother's brand metal polish(yeah i get really bored sometimes). when i was done, they were incredibly smooth and looked/felt like the journals on the crank.

here's where the thoery comes in:

would the polished/smoother surface be better due to the decreased friction, or does the original finish act as a "magnet" to hold oil against it?

i doubt that i affected the clearance of the bearing, but i supposed it is possible. any thoughts on this are apprecitaed!

 

Whered did you get your new bearing from. You crank/rods spin on a film of oil dont actually sit on the bearing. I dont think a smooth shiny finish would do anything.

 

yep the babbitt metal is or was there for a reason

 

thats kind of what i figured. if being smooth/shiny was better, they would probably come that way from honda. (they are OEM bearings btw) would polishing them be detrimental to their functionality?

and no i didnt do this to the new ones!

 

I dont think polish would do anything but why waste the effort. There fine the way they are.

 

OEM bearings come with a coating on them that is for protection when first installed/dry starts. polishing bearings may promote lubricity in theory but at what cost? I think you raise an interesting idea though. Try asking a professional engine builder or machinist

 

no the coating is not for ''cold starts'' it is there for protection and oil retention, but not ment to be worn.. 1 good rub and the shiet is gone.
if so people would be waisting money when coating bearings..

 

People do coat bearings