I let the box that my engine rebuild kit was in get damp and now the bearings have very slight surface rust. Its mainly on the edges but several of em have a slight amount on the back side but none on the actual bearing surface.

I called the guy who is going to put the bottom end together and he said "don't sweat it, I usually wipe em down with a worn scotchbrite pad and soak em in oil prior to installing em anyway". :eek:
This guy has worked for a very reputable machine shop for years and says they always did this.

I thought I read in a thread here somewhere that scotchbrite pads should not be found anywhere near a engine that is being assembled.

I think I'm going to purchase another set of bearing just in case but I'm getting a little nervous about him assembling the bottom end.

Whats the word on the pads, Is that a common practice or should I be concerned?

Thanks

Dwayne

You could probably get away with Scotch-Brite,just dont over do it.IMO,I would lightly dust the bearings some 600 wet or dry sandpaper.Be sure to rinse the bearing shells REAL good with carb or brake spray. graemlins/beers.gif

Originally posted by New68SS:


I thought I read in a thread here somewhere that scotchbrite pads should not be found anywhere near a engine that is being assembled.
Whats the word on the pads, Is that a common practice or should I be concerned?

Thanks

Dwayne You did, it was BillK, he is a machine shop owner and always gives good advice here.

That is correct. NEVER use Scotchbrite, emery cloth, sandpaper on bearings, regardless how fine the grit is. Wipe the bearings with clean solvent, or brake clean, using clean soft cotton rags. If the surface rust cannot be removed completely with solvent, then they should be replaced.

My dad used to check the bearings in his Chrysler Fuel car & if they were good,he'd lightly sand them with 600 & some solvent.
I actually help a Nor Cal TF team to this day,& we do the same thing.Never had a problem.
I guess a street motor is a little different.
Sorry.

Hey while we're on the topic of bearings...I just got my block bored and my cam bearings installed, well the block had some surface rust in the lifter valleys and underneath of the timing chain cover...so I coated the entire block in WD-40 :( and of course the cam bearings got drenched with it. Will that hurt them? I've heard conflicting opinions..can you guys weigh in??

Thanks, and sorry to change the topic a bit tongue.gif

I have used Scotchbrite or steel wool many times with never a problem. And no, it will not damage your cam bearings.

http://www.caddyinfo.com/howtoscotchbrite.htm

H'fire,
Yup there are a lot of things done on a fuel car that aren't done on a road car. There is quite a difference between making an engine live for 4.42 seconds versus 100k miles. Hey, I know that you guys often replace only the upper rod bearing shell, or only the lower main shell; reusing (an possibly even sanding) the opposite shell.

sapper,
WD-40 will not harm anything inside (or outside) of your engine, when used this way (as a moisture dispersant). Just remember though, WD-40 has no pressure or load carrying properties. It may loosen things up significantly, but it is NOT a lubricant.

I don't know about sanding the bearings, but I was taught to make sure the backs of the bearing and the block where they sit are "Dry" and clean to avoid hot spots.

Yep,!! Always used the fat of my hand or my thumb to wipe each saddle down AND the backs of the shells too just before snapping them into position AND then oiling them down good before dropping the crank on them..

The old dusting the bearings is an old thing that some say is fine, others say, won't touch them with a 10 foot pole!! take your pick, but do do it CLEAN if you decide to dust them!!!

Some also say to chamfer the ends of the bearings on the back side so they don't cut metal off at the parting line as you snap them in.. I never have got that anal, but rather just am careful when I snap them into position..

pdq67

OK, so were about 50/50. Thanks for clearing it up for me :D


pd67,
what do you mean by "do it CLEAN?"


Thanks guys

Dwayne

Throw them away and buy a new set. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than the damage that a spun bearing will do!

Tom

i myself would not use rusty bearings........but then again i dont use nothing on a bearing shell but a clean lint free rag to wipe them down. before i snap them in dry.

If you was to scotch-brite the bearings, just make darn sure you clean them real good to keep any sh-t from being on them when you install everything. That's all..

pdq67

it just bothers me ......we as a whole do everything possable to keep are oil cleaned and changed.........we do everything to clean our motors to make sure nothing runs thru are oiling systems.....but yet some just stand there sanding on the damn bearings like they doing good...........might as well just forget about cleaning your crank and engine and slap it together......let the particals of crap wipe off the protective coating on the bearings for you during break in............


sorry guys had to vent on using scotchbrite or any other junk people use to "clean bearings" i just dont see what good you are doing specially when these companys spend all that time to help you with protecting your bearings during break in with a coating on the bearings........gee what was those companys thinking......ok im done

Originally posted by ddeennis:
it just bothers me ......we as a whole do everything possable to keep are oil cleaned and changed.........we do everything to clean our motors to make sure nothing runs thru are oiling systems.....but yet some just stand there sanding on the damn bearings like they doing good...........might as well just forget about cleaning your crank and engine and slap it together......let the particals of crap wipe off the protective coating on the bearings for you during break in............


sorry guys had to vent on using scotchbrite or any other junk people use to "clean bearings" i just dont see what good you are doing specially when these companys spend all that time to help you with protecting your bearings during break in with a coating on the bearings........gee what was those companys thinking......ok im done -
graemlins/beers.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif :D :D

I like to use mothers allumimum cleaner to polish my bearings makes them slick as a babys butt!!!