logo
logo
Sign in

Causes of Failure With a Connecting Rod

avatar
Bearing Centre
Causes of Failure With a Connecting Rod

A connecting rod, also known as a conrod, converts the linear up and down movements or the piston's reciprocating motion into the crankshaft's circular motion. It is one of the engineering components that experiences tension, compression, bending and buckling during the process.


The connecting rod gets stretched and compressed on every stroke. This pressure, plus other factors, causes the connecting rod to break. This broken rod can go through the engine block completely, ruining the engine and creating a condition known as "throwing a rod".


There are multiple causes why this engineering component can fail. Let's take a look at the reason:


Fatigue

Fatigue is the primary cause of connecting rod breakdown, especially in older engines. Compression and stretching during the power stroke and the stretching during the exhaust stroke almost over a thousand times a minute wear the engineering component out, making it brittle and brittle. If the oil is low or dirty, this speeds up the fatigue process. Even a relatively new engine can have fatigued connecting rods if the engine is rebuilt.


Pin Failure

The pin connecting the connecting rod to the piston undergoes a lot of wear. If the pin snaps, the connecting rod is no longer connected to the engine. In some engines, it causes it can result in catastrophic engine failure, and in some machines, it can result in a dramatic power loss. If the engine is stopped immediately after the pin failure, it is possible to save it.


Over Revving

The leading cause of connecting rod failure in new and high-performance engines. When the tachometer hits the red even briefly, the connection rods come in danger of breaking. It is because of the forces that act on a connecting rod increase significantly at high revolutions. 



Hydrolock

Hydrolock refers to the deformation of the connecting rod caused when the water goes into the piston chamber. It usually occurs after the car has been driven through deep water, like a flooded street. When little water enters the cylinder, the vehicle usually makes a knocking or tapping sound, which can even be repaired. However, if enough water gets in the cylinder, it takes up the space in the spark, and the connecting rod can bend or snap. Hydralock is a common phenomenon in boats compared to cars, as boats are operated around water.



Heavy Duty castor wheels South Africa

If you want to purchase quality ball bearings, castor wheels and engineering components, make the Bearing Centre your first choice!

We are the authorised distributors of a wide range of roller, precision, miniature, linear and ball bearings apart from high-quality seals, power transmission motors and hydraulic. 

Contact us to know more.



collect
0
avatar
Bearing Centre
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more