Topic: 350F main shell bearings

[chrisbc55]

Ok I am confused about these. My machinist has measured the crank and said to just get standard shells as it is sill within spec. I find that the main crank has 2A 1A 2A 1A 1A on it and can't work out what to order. On the edge of the shells there is a stamp and they are: 
D2H-A. std on 4 of them and D2G-A std on 1 of them(what does that mean.?)...The cranks are easy enough as they all have C2 which corresponds to yellow in the shop manual.
Help
Chris

[Bodi]

There are some things to look for to decide what inserts you need.
First is the crank codes - you seem to have them OK, but I'm not sure they should look like that, I think they should just be letters, printed on the crank in oil resistant paint.
Next is the bore codes, stamped at the back of the engine and reading from cylinder 1: the marking looks like ABAAC.
there's a matrix in the service manual that you cross the codes to get the insert color.
But you should measure the crank journals to see if they have worn: not usual but possible. Compare it to the range shown for the code: you can also measure the journals and get the codes if they are unreadable (not unusual).
(The bores don't wear unless a bearing spins - this is a serious issue: if the bores are damaged you look for replacement cases)
Then you try and find the insert color you want: not easy, these are NLA from Honda as far as I know - and stock is spotty when you can find them.
Or you can skip all the above, buy whatever inserts are available, then plastigage them to see if the clearance is within spec. It should be near or just under the minimum.
Some say to get the thickest inserts and it will be OK. I don't know about that!

[chrisbc55]

Hi Bodi

Thanks for all the useful info.
The crank definately has an A as well as a number but who know what Mr Honda was saying with that. I have 3 cranks here and they all have the letter A. in front of the number. But I have also found reference to those and the letters on the back of the lower case, it reads:
(for reference mine are AAAAA....must be a top motor in its day!!)

"the letter and figure codes stamped on the lower crankcase and crankshaft are factory production references and should not be confused with bearing codes"

what gets me is that nowhere in the manual does it refer to a number for a main crank shell just a leter and a color so I have no way to reference what I need unless I go by the mechanics measurement and put in type E=red
I am pretty sure there is no wear on the journals and just using standard shell will be fine and then check with plastigage. There is some signs of fatigue on a couple of shells but the rest look pretty good and I have heaps of used ones from other striped motors. maybe I should just use those or find some on ebay with only a few thousand miles on them, if I am lucky

Cheers