My GSR motor has spun a rod bearing, which has occurred twice on the same journal. I had the crank redone after the first time it occurred, and the same journal wiped out another bearing. The new piston is all chewed up on the bottom of the skirt just like the piston was chewed up the first time I spun a bearing. It seems as if there is a lubrication problem.

I am thinking that I might have an oil squirter issue. Would this even be remotely plausible? Supposedly on diesels this can lead to problems, but someone was telling me that they usually just block off the squirters when they build a turbo motor. WTF?

Let me know what you think.

 

you clearance all your bearings the same? What are you using to measure?

 

My machinist recommended the sizes. I personally should have measured it though. Something that may eliminate a potential of having the wrong bearing is that the other bearings were fine, just as they were the first time I spun the bearing.

 

I live by the rule of never using a crank that has spun a rod journal. I think you should get another crank and a new set of rods and pistons.

 

X2^

I never reuse a spun crank.

 

Good point, and I do agree with you. The shop that I sent it to mainly specializes in cranks, and the crank was refinished on a robotic welding lathe specifically for cranks. It seemed to measure the same as the other journals, so i'm going to ultimately assume that the crank is right on.

 

You should double check and measure on your own. The same journal seems to not get enough oil, which may be because its tigther than the others. Get another crank now and remeasure everything and double check for the clearances.

 

All you really need is a micropolish on the crank.

If all the journals on the crank are measuring the same, it doesnt mean your rod or your mains are measuring out the same also. So check those as well and make your calculations accordingly.

 

Understood.

One thing I really want to make sure that I learn here, in addition to what you guys have already told me, is what impact does the oil squirter have on the life/death of the components that they serve to protect? Just something I want to get clear in my head. I know they cool the piston, but oil is oil, and it's always a lubricant, and that's why i'm curious.

Other than that, I really do have all of the intentions in the world to get another crank. So it's not like I simply want you guys to tell me what I want to hear. I'm really wanting to learn.

 

I personally dont think the Oil squirters are that necessary. If it was, then LS/VTEC setups wouldnt work.

 

Good point. lol

Perhaps my guy missed the crank.

P.S.- Should I just go the dealer and buy a small range of bearing sizes? I mean, the sizes on these motors seem to vary soo much such that there really isn't a standard rod bearing size. I'll be honest, I went to an engine parts wholesaler and bought STANDARD rod bearings and popped those babies in. When I put the motor together, I always take notice of how the bearing fits the rod, and it seemed so great. However, after hearing the faint/barely noticeable knocking noise roughly 300 miles into the fresh rebuild, I pulled the motor out and the bearing was loose in the rods' big end. The piston skirt was scarred up badly (and seemed to have gotten really hot). Just a shitty deal.

Well, considering that no two Honda crank rod journals measure the same, how do guys go about using aftermarket rods then. I keep hearing of how people simply throw in a set of Eagle rods and a set of ACL bearings. Geez, how likely is it that a standard ACL rod bearing fits the crank journal, and at the least, the Eagle rod?

 

What oil are you using, and how long was it before it spun the bearing? Have pics of the bearing, warped from oil starvation, how is the oil pump pressure?

 

Running same oil pump on the current motor. All seems well.

Bearing = smooshed looking; scarred badly; fit loosely in the big end of the rod.

Just some cheap store brand oil.

Took under 300 miles for the bearing to retire itself.

No pics. Sorry.

 

Were the oil passages in the crank clear and cleaned?

 

I am assuming yes.

Prior to assembling the motor, I blew shop air through the squirters. I later found out that they have springs in them. I don't think there's anything relevant to that. Just thought i'd throw it out there.

 

i take it you did not measure the bearing clearance, hence why it spun.