So I picked up a 1994 22RE that had a spun rod bearing. I bought a new crank for it with matching bearings and assembled it. I could turn the crank just fine with the mains torqued. And it turns fine with all the rods torqued except for #2. Well at first it wouldn't turn at all so i took it all apart and cleaned both sides of both rod bearings and reassembled with minimal lube. It turns now but it's not as easy as I was hoping. Somethings not right and i need some pointers.

 

Did you use plasti gauge?

 

Yep. Everything was in clearance.

 

You might have a bent piston rod. I don't really know how to check them; I know there exists a precision jig for that purpose. You might try rubbing a little lampblack (or graphite) on the journal and see if it wipes more on one side when you turn the crank one time.

 

Well I just went through a set of rod caps I had laying here from another motor(9k on a rebuild) and measured then out until I found one that was just a tad smaller. And it works great. The crank spins free but has enough drag to tell me it's not too loose somewhere.