[SEL] O/T Steam main bearing babbitt

[Richard Strobel]

  G'day all;
    Friend Corky and I are at our wits end trying to find a very obnoxious 
knock(s) on both dead centers of our vertical Wachs engine.  This list has 
such great experience with main bearing babbitt, I wanted to ask here.

  Here's the engine and as you all probably know a "Single Simple" fires?? 
on both sides of the piston;

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2308067910039077051Ronfyj

  Dial indicator on end of cs shows .003 slop.  This may indicate a bend 
crank or just out of round..I would think this would be tolerable.

  M/B babbitt looks new and shows no sign of ever being scrapped...one can 
still see some ripples.  There is some side to side/axial slop in both main 
bearings.  Yes, this would have showed up on the dial indicator had we 
loaded one side.

  Now the big question as the crank is going to the crank doc and he can 
flux weld and machine to any diameter.

  Do I have him flux weld and machine to a diameter so there is no side to 
side/axial slop and if so, how do I determine what diameter to use?

  Also, the rod inserts show wear on one side towards the solid flywheel. 
How do I assure this crank is level?  This has been mentioned before..eh, 
Curt.. somewhile back.

  I really don't want to pour new babbitt.


  Thanks much...after this endeavor, I'll be headed back to the 4.5hp New 
Way in which I'm always looking for a mixer.

Best Regards,
RickinMt.