PLASTIGAGE Method
Plastigage may be used to measure the clearance.
- Remove oil, grease and any other dirt from the bearings and journals.
- Cut the plastigage the same length as the width of the bearing and place it in parallel with the journal, avoiding the oil holes.
- Install the crankshaft, bearings and caps and tighten them to the specified torques. During this operation, do not turn the crankshaft. Remove the caps. Measure the width of the plastigage at the widest part by using the scale printed on the gauge package.
If the clearance exceeds the service limit, the bearing should be replaced or an undersize bearing should be used. When installing a new crankshaft, be sure to use standard size bearings.
If the standard clearance can not be obtained even after replacing the bearing, the journal and pin should be ground to the undersize and a bearing of the corresponding size should be installed.