The small end of a connecting rod joins the piston pin and the larger diameter joins the throw of the crank shaft with a pressed steel bearing. The bearing is theoretically never in contact with the shaft, there is always a thin film of oil between. The subtle deep knocking I heard yesterday and hoped was just a heat shield was probably the bearing going. The much louder clacking and stalling of my truck this morning as I was just in sight of G.M. Allens Blueberry Factory was the rod breaking and smacking around in its cylinder. Amazingly the truck still starts.
From Wikipedia: The con rod is under tremendous stress from the reciprocating load represented by the piston, actually stretching and relaxing with every rotation, and the load increases rapidly with increasing engine speed. Failure of a connecting rod, usually called "throwing a rod" is one of the most common causes of catastrophic engine failure in cars, frequently putting the broken rod through the side of the crankcase and thereby rendering the engine irreparable.
My rod didn't break the crank case, which would have been cool, if oily. So, I'm not working on the Pike today and am car shopping.
Fortunately I have a terrific girlfriend that will give me a ride to Rockport tonight and my truck truly didn't owe me anything.
The Pike in Spring
The Jacob Pike at Rockport Marine when work began in April 2008.
1 comment:
Happened to us once dragging a trailer down to DC from RI. We heard the knocking in Delaware. Stopped and rented a truck to go the rest of the way. Dropped off the boats and headed back. Decided to try to nurse the patient back as far north as it would go. We kept the rental truck.
We made it to the exit for the airport in RI when the patient expired in glorious puddle of oil.
There were some bemused looks in the NY toll booths as the knocking was pretty loud.
Towing bill was a lot lower; a rebuilt engine was dropped into said truck which continued into a second life.
Much the same as the Pike.
seabag
Post a Comment