Farm Equipment - Rod bearing wear

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Rod bearing wear

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=209936
Printed Date: 21 Mar 2026 at 2:22pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Rod bearing wear

Posted By: Acguywill
Subject: Rod bearing wear
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 1:15pm

So this is a picture of a rod bearing from the engine I had the antifreeze issue with.

All six bearings have the same mark in the same place. What caused it? It is deep and can easily be felt. The crank looks and feels fine.

Replies:

Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 1:35pm

Antifreeze has/is glycol. Glycol is in the glucose (sugar) family. Antifreeze in the oil reduces the ability of oil to lubricate the crankshaft.

At a very minimum, you have to first eliminate the coolant in the oil. I would change the rod and main bearings. The crankshaft should be measured (miked) to see how out of round it is.

Posted By: Lars(wi)
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 2:58pm

Acguywill wrote:

So this is a picture of a rod bearing from the engine I had the antifreeze issue with.

All six bearings have the same mark in the same place. What caused it? It is deep and can easily be felt. The crank looks and feels fine.

Ouch!!

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I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.

Posted By: bigal121892
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 3:46pm

You said the engine had been sitting for four years, I wonder if just the fact that the crank was sitting in that one spot for that long, could have done that.

Posted By: Les Kerf
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 3:47pm

That doesn't look like frictional wear but rather more like a chemical reaction dissolving the bearing material Confused

Posted By: Acguywill
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 5:09pm

The bearings looked like that when I parked it. I thought it looked like chemical etching but can't figure out why or how they could all be in the same place, the holes for the oil don't line up in the same place on the bearings. I couldn't find new bearings at the time so it has just been sitting but have recently found some so am looking to get it ready as a spare/backup. Not that it makes any difference but it is an international UR450 power unit. The date on both the rod and mains is 6 74 so it has been a while since it's last overhaul. Forgot to add there was no antifreeze in the oil when I checked it 4 years ago and there is none in it now so thankfully the block did not freeze.

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 5:30pm

If you're going to re-use them, switch them around, top shell to the bottom and bottom shell to the top.

Posted By: Acguywill
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 6:00pm

I had thought about that, but the bad spot is on the bottom shell as it is and the edge of the spot is very abrupt. I was worried that if I ran it the bearing material would continue to break down and destroy the crank. Parts for old International engines are getting scarce.

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2026 at 6:44pm

OK. I assumed your "sweet spot" was on the upper shell like many engines are.

Posted By: Acdiesel
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2026 at 11:03am

this may help point you in the correct direction.

https://www.mahle-aftermarket.com/media/local-media-north-america/pdfs-&-thumbnails/catalogs-and-literature/engine-bearings/ceb-2-1114-engine-bearing-failures-brochure.pdf" rel="nofollow">

ENGINE BEARING:

MAHLE Aftermarket

https://www.mahle-aftermarket.com › media › ceb...

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D19 Diesel,D17 Diesel SER.3
2-D14, 2-D15 SER.II WF/NF
D15 SER.2 DIESEL
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2-720'S D21 Ser. II

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I'm a pharmacist (farm assist) with a PHD (post hole digger)

Posted By: Les Kerf
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2026 at 2:15pm

Acdiesel wrote:

this may help point you in the correct direction.

https://www.mahle-aftermarket.com/media/local-media-north-america/pdfs-&-thumbnails/catalogs-and-literature/engine-bearings/ceb-2-1114-engine-bearing-failures-brochure.pdf" rel="nofollow -

Posted By: Acguywill
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2026 at 7:48pm

Thanks for the link Acdiesel. Reading the descriptions of the various types of failures I am thinking it is surface fatigue. That seems to be the only thing that fits what I am seeing. That would explain why there are bits of stuff imbeded in the bearing surface. I originally thought they were contaminants of some sort but when I took a close up picture and really zoomed in they look like flakes of surface material. Not shiny metallic flakes but dull colored angular shaped flakes.

Posted By: TerryfromswIA
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2026 at 3:40pm

That is a delamination of the alloy from the steel backing. Hard to believe it happened to all of them but there it is. They look like an aluminum alloy not a copper/bronze alloy with a plating overlay or a lead bearing alloy with a tin plate overlay.