Rod bearing wear - replacement needed?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by windsmith, Jul 29, 2019.

  1. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    I pulled one rod cap and found this. Replace them all? Is this normal for 800K mile bearings? Cat C12 engine.

    bearingwear1.jpg bearingwear2.jpg
     
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  3. Goodysnap

    Goodysnap Road Train Member

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    Looks good to me for 800k. I'd say it's been taken care of.

    If your allready in there, roll in new ones.
     
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  4. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    I broke an exhaust valve and trashed a cylinder and the turbo. I ordered the inframe kit today. Got a few days of work ahead of me.
     
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  5. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    Looks like it's worn through the copper?
    You have to change them.
     
  6. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    That's what I was trying to figure out. I don't see any copper, but I was looking for others' opinions. It's been 30 years since I've dropped an oil pan lol
     
  7. Goodysnap

    Goodysnap Road Train Member

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    I didnt see any copper either. The wear in the center on the top bearing looks normal to me for the milleage. The bottom looks great. Poorly maintained engines will have rotational deep grooves down to the copper form dirt and contamination in the oil system from the bypassing the plugged filter.

    I'd like to see #4 main, but suspect you'll see more of the same. What rod is this?
     
  8. DieselDrivinDaddy

    DieselDrivinDaddy Light Load Member

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    Different engine, but looks similar to mine with 600k or so on them in my E7.

    I also had a few that were scored like Goodysnap mentioned. Believe it was #3 and 4.

    Just rolled new rod and mains two weeks ago in my Mack. Well worth the work in my opinion.

    Personally, I would do them all while you have the pan off and polish the crank while youre in there.
     
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  9. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I wouldn't even consider replacing just one cylinder assembly with that kind of usage on the engine. I'd be rebuilding it too since its already torn apart.
     
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  10. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    This is rod #1, the one with the broken valve. The head of the valve got forced through the seat after 3-4 rotations, but not before it bent the piston crown. I initially thought it was an injector that crapped out on me, since there was no noise and about 10 seconds of white smoke accompanied by a loss of power and a hard miss. Despite the valve having chewed off half of the turbine blades, I still had normal boost pressure. I drove it 20 miles loaded, then bobtailed another 60 miles to the shop.

    I pulled #6 rod and it shows the same wear. I pulled #7 main while I was under there, and it showed minor discoloration on about 1/4" of the forward edge on the lower shell. Upper shell looked like new.

    I'm going to pull the rest of the rods and packs today and post pictures if anyone's interested. I figured I'd let it drip overnight so it's not raining oil on me. I'll wait to do the mains when my parts come in.
     
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  11. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    Yeah, but I'm cheap. When I was pulling the bearing caps, I could see coolant pooling on the main caps. That pretty much told me what I needed to know. Inframe kit is on the way.

    Forgot to mention, the bearings were rolled in at 750K per the service records. The ECM shows 1.6M on the engine, and AFAIK there's been no overhaul done. Build year is 1999. I guess it's time.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2019
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