Now there’s a question, Dougie

The answer is … it will depend which one !!

No, I am not trying to be funny

Wikipedia will explain: **LINK**

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babbitt_(alloy)

MichaelG.

Can you hold the two halves of the bearing together with the bearing bolts and then machine them?

Another way would be to make two bearings, bore them and cut them in two with a hacksaw offset from the centre and then filing or milling the bigger one of each back to the centreline.

Plus one for superglue I have used it and it works well (keep cool).

Do you already have some babbitt or whitemetal? If not expect eye watering prices. I purchased some a few years ago to make a steering nut.

Martin

Babbit bearings, in my experience, have been supported within a steel structure – generally cast in situ and then machined.

The supporting material can be clamped, glued, soldered? (carefully). Perhaps I’ve only come across larger bearings of this type, but that is generally the way it is done. Shimmed bearing halves so that they can be scraped, and shims removed, to adjust the bearings for fit/wear.

I have four rods, for a 2 3/4” crank, needing to be re-metalled. Doubt I will ever get round to it as I have a good set of mains and rods. Unless needed, the 20kg of white metal can remain as two cast cylindrical lumps of metal.

When I had to rebuild my 73 year-old tractor, about 35 years ago, all I had to do was remove shims from between the con-rod and end-cap. Max crankshaft speed was only 1125rpm and it had only been worked hard for about 15 years on a 150 acre farm.