User Manual

7
NOTE: 

Connecting rod bearing and cage assemblies that are wider than female rod may become damaged upon contact with ywheel thrust
pads. Damaged rod bearing assemblies and/or foreign material from damaged components circulating in oil could cause further
destruction and possible failure of other engine parts.
I. Finish assembling ywheels and rods. Flywheel assemblies 1972 to early 1981 may be more dicult to true because of the 8½° sprocket
shaft taper. Following above procedures will help diagnose problem if diculty should arise.
4. Connecting Rod Alignment (All)
After ywheel assembly is installed in crankcases, rods must be checked for straightness. S&S rod checking pin, PN 53-0002, was designed to
help perform this procedure. It may also be necessary, to fabricate a rod bending tool as illustrated in Figure 2.
NOTE: 



Pistons which do not run true in cylinder bores may cause excessive connecting rod side thrusting. This in turn may lead to premature
ring, piston, connecting rod and rod bearing wear and eventual failure of these parts.
Checking Pin Procedure
A. Insert checking pin into wristpin hole. Place strips of paper between checking pin and crankcase cylinder gasket surface and apply slight
downward pressure to wristpin end of rod by rotating ywheels. Pull papers out slowly. Drag on papers should be equal.
B. Rotate ywheels in opposite direction until checking pin contacts cylinder gasket surface again. Repeat procedure to rod again. If drag on
papers is equal no bending is required. If one paper is loose, use rod bending tool to tweak rod in direction of loose paper and recheck.
See Picture 5.
C. Repeat checking and bending procedure for other rod.
CAUTION
1
1
/ 8 "
.510"-.520" Wide Slot
22"
1
1
/ 4 "
4"
Figure 2
CAUTION
Picture 5