Under normal operating conditions, the wear and tear of the
engine bearing is generally between 40 - 120 degrees, depending on the load.
After a prolonged period of life, it is normal that the bearing shows some
particles of dirt embedded in the babbit and has small cracks, which should not be be
severe.
Bearings also suffer form wear and tear as happens with all the active parts
of an engine. This is due to the normal wear that occurs after a certain milage, depending
on the conditions in which the engine has been operated in. Temperatures, loads, and
extreme speed cause the acceleration of the bearing's normal wear.
Some of the causes of premature bearing failure are fatigue,
dirt embedment, dealignment, oil starvation, cavitation, distorted crankcase, and
distorted crankshaft. Here are some illustrations
of these types of engine bearing damage.
We have included recommendations to
help prevent premature bearing failures, both during the rebuilding process, and after the
engine has been placed into service.
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