Originally Posted by
rageworks
Check the lower con rod bushing too. The rod is under
alot of stress during break-in. So, if there is any play
in it at all, now is the time to replace it also. Don't feel
too bad about it. I have had the original bearings in O.S,
Novarossi based and Picco engines do the same shat.
Just because they have Swiss stamped on them doesn't
mean squat to me anymore.
I've had the bearing on one NR go out prematurely, but that was when I was sick at a race and someone else tuned it and overleaned the bottom. I ran the CV and CV-R for years and never had bearing problems. The TR was the first OS .12 engine I remember seeing consistent early bearing failures in. I have a TR in a box right now that I put new bearings in and will be going in the truck till I get the TZ's done LOL. But it seems to be a consistent problem with the TZ and with some of the big block OS engines also. It's a shame b/c the TZ is the best running .12 I've ever had, but I know I can buy a NR and put 6-8 gallons of fuel through it before I ever need to think about bearings.
BTW, rod feels fine, no play, but we'll see when I pull it out. All my engines are at 200+ deg the first time they hit pavement so the rod doesn't stress much during break in, but I'm worried about the stress this stupid bearing put on it.