[Ed Fitzgerald]

The bearings look to me as if they were subjected to water. The water droplets hit the hot crank and steam blasted the bearings. Saw this numerous times in diesel engines over the years. Do a bearing roll in and drive it. If problem persists then tear it down. I recently tore down a Case diesel engine that had spun a bearing. The tractor still had 25 lbs of oil pressure at an idle. The rod bearing was the thickness of bristle board paper and had ears on it like a main bearing. From the bearing spinning on the crank it was unbelievable how thin the bearing was. The crank looked to be scored but after cleaning with muriatic acid and 120 crocus paper much of the babbit and tin came off to reveal a somewhat uniform rod journal. Then after wrapping crank with 180 emery cloth and polishing with a rope, I then went to 240 and finished with 400. Each time dip the emery cloth in diesel as it will cut better. I used the bearing beside it with plastigage and found .002 oversize bearing would work. Put the engine back together and 40 lbs of oil pressure at an idle (warm). Tractor has been running strong for several weeks and no problems. Over the years I have heard that this is not the way a proper mechanic fixes engines. I beg to differ a real mechanic can do this and have success. When you turn the crank, I believe you are nothing more than a parts changer. From the turn of the 20th century to present how many engines got fixed this way. If an engine had to have the crank turned each and every time there wouldn't have been an engine in existance back in the 40's and 50's.