Concerns about new bearing condition.

[5150DSM]

Hey guys. I just cracked open my new main bearings and I have some concerns about their condition. I've used the ACL race bearings on many motors and never seen them look like this out of the box. I'm trying to put my bottom end together in time for the weekend and then I run into this shit. WTF! One side looks fine and the other is focked.

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Opinions, ideas??

 

[dsmgst1996]

to be honest i would not run these bearings but in a pinch they would work i would take some emery cloth to them and shin them up if you where to use them make sure the surface is smooth and you will be fine

 

[joescool2008]

I wouldn't use them. Better off not finding out if they are bad. Send them back, waiting a week is better than several months due to bad bearings.

 

[viperlp01]

They look normal to me??!? I can't see any scratches on the surface and they have the normal color to them.

 

[BogusSVO]

That looks to be a stain from the final coating that ACL puts on the Race bearings.

Install them . check your clearance and go on with the build.

 

[sidewaystsi]

Thats normal for the ACL bearings.The set i had even had a disclaimer about how their supposed to have a shitty color.

 

[5150DSM]

I've seen the purplish discoloration before but it was pretty uniform not streaky. It was really disconcerting to see purplish/black streaks along the bearing surface. The $$$ is stacking up on this build and something unexpected is scary right now. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. I'll clearance them and see where they are at. Thanks for the replies.

 

[bastarddsm]

Mine always look like that. I scotchbrite mine before install.

 

[JacksonAuto]

That's exactly what ACL Race bearings are supposed to look like. You are probably used to seeing the shiny finish on regular bearings. Don't be concerned.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Mine always look like that. I scotchbrite mine before install.

Is this even a good idea? Doesnt sound like it.

 

[JacksonAuto]

Using Scotchbrite is an old trick to remove the flash plating which ACL Race bearings do not have anyway, so using this trick is a wasted effort. Additionally, using Scotchbrite on the wear side of the bearing will embed small particles into the babbit layer. It is fairly common, though, to Scotchbrite the BACK side of the bearing lightly to provide better seating of the bearing in the saddle which will increase the ability of the bearing to dissipate the heat. Be sure to check the clearances before doing this though because you will gain a couple tenths if you're not careful. If you've got some small scratches or marks from a bore gauge in the face of the bearings you can use a piece of newspaper to polish them out. Believe it or not, newspaper is just abrasive enough to do the trick.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Wouldn't the scratches cause premature ware? I used a scotch brite pad on my windshield to rid plastidip overspray, but there are some good scratches there now :/ i would think similar effects to bearings.

 

[JacksonAuto]

Wouldn't the scratches cause premature ware? I used a scotch brite pad on my windshield to rid plastidip overspray, but there are some good scratches there now :/ i would think similar effects to bearings.

There are different "grits'' of Scotchbrite available from coarse (80g) to very fine (around 1500).

 

[gieri002]

I installed some acl bearings that looked identical to these a couple weeks ago. I did not do any prep work, just installed them as-is and have since put ~3000 trouble free miles on them. Good luck with your build!

 

[5150DSM]

Clearance measured out fine on both the mains and rods. Motor spins freely with everything torqued down. I did use scotch-brite squares to slightly "rough up" the backs of the bearings as I always have. I'm gonna run it.