Rod bearing question

[paulapalooza]

Hi guys,

I am looking for new connecting rod bearings, and I have seen different oversizes represented by color (ie. blue, black, etc). Can someone give me clarification on what color refers to what oversize?

Cheers

[trbig]

There's a way to check between the numbers that are stamped on the rods where they connect to the crank, and the numbers stamped onto the crank, but they only apply if both the crank and rods are brand new. If the motor has ever been started, throw that out the window.

Officially, you can measure them with plastigauge, but there's such a very small difference between the bearing thicknesses of all the new bearings, that the simplest way is to just throw in the thickest bearings you can find (Blue). Since they don't make these bearings any more, if you can't find blue, go with what you can find. Make sure and check for them under the XS750 and 850 also since they used the same connecting rod bearings.

I know this answer is going to drive the people nuts that want to measure everything exactly to the ten thousandths of an inch, but honestly, the reason they don't make these con-rod bearings any more is because they almost never go bad. Unless you've got some copper color showing on the bearings you now have, meaning it's through the actual bearing material, I wouldn't personally bother changing them. I used to change them every time, but found the old ones I was taking out looked as good as the new ones I was putting in.

[petejw]

+ 1 what tod says,
unless uve got fuel in the oil
and have spun a bearing or 2
u should be sweet.

[TADracer]

And don't forget a liberal dose of assembly lube before you put it all back together.