Connecting Rod Bearing Replacement: Replacement

Courtesy of HONDA, U.S.A., INC.

NOTE:  Keep all connecting rod caps/bearing halves in order.

Courtesy of HONDA, U.S.A., INC.

1. Clean the connecting rod journal and the bearing half with a clean shop towel

2. Place plastigage across the connecting rod journal

3. Reinstall the bearing half and the connecting rod cap, then torque the bolts to 41 N.m (4.2 kgf.m, 30 lbf.ft) + 120°.

NOTE: 

• Apply new engine oil to the bolt threads and flanges.
• Do not rotate the crankshaft during inspection.

4. Remove the connecting rod cap and the bearing half, and measure the widest part of the plastigage.

5. If the plastigage measures too wide or too narrow, remove the cap, and the upper half of the bearing. Install a new, complete bearing with the appropriate color code(s), and recheck the clearance. Do not file, shim, or scrape the bearings or the caps to adjust clearance.

6. If the plastigage shows the clearance is still incorrect, try the next larger or smaller bearing (the color listed above or below the current one), and check the clearance again. If the proper clearance cannot be obtained by using the appropriate larger or smaller bearings, replace the crankshaft  and start over.

Big End Bore Code Locations 

Courtesy of HONDA, U.S.A., INC.

1. Inspect each connecting rod for cracks and heat damage

2. Each connecting rod has a tolerance range from 0 to 0.024 mm (0.00094 in), in 0.006 mm (0.00024 in) increments, depending on the size of its big end bore. It's then stamped with a number or bar (1, 2, 3, or 4/l, ll, lll, or llll) indicating the range. You may find any combination of numbers and bars in any engine. (Half the number or bar is stamped on the rod cap, the other half is on the connecting rod.) If you cannot read the code because of an accumulation of oil and varnish, do not scrub it with a wire brush or scraper. Clean it only with solvent or detergent.

Main Journal Code Locations  Courtesy of HONDA, U.S.A., INC.

3. The connecting rod journal codes are stamped on the crankshaft in either location.

Courtesy of HONDA, U.S.A., INC.

4. Use the big end bore codes and the rod journal codes to select appropriate replacement bearings from the following table. NOTE:  Color code is on the edge of the bearing. When using bearing halves of different colors, it does not matter which color is used in the top or bottom.