I replaced connecting rod after connecting rod in my late Seventies K&B .40 and Fox .19 PB engines. Our club was on a synthetic oil only kick back then and I didn't have the time to track down a bottle of castor oil.

K&B then changed the connecting rod to include bushings at both ends. The problem went away entirely. Fox never did change, so I got rid of the POS. I don't have time to keep replacing parts that should be built better in the first place.

By increasing the silicon content in the connecting rods and by increasing the journal diameters of the wrist pin and crank pin, I can see how the engine can last a lot longer, even when running low or no castor oil. Still, I just think it is a cheap way out of a serious condition. Yes, I know that Saito changed to that years ago and I have to admit that I haven't heard of any Saito problems that are particularly related to the absence of a bushing. Still, I'd feel better if they were there...<G>

99% of what any of us believe as the truth is just opinion.


Ed Cregger