Interesting stuff Konrad.

I had a first run rod failure on my West .50, the big end was beat up really badly. I would assume this is from hammering the piston through a tight TDC pinch several hundred times, it was very squeaky and I did not preheat it. It had run 15 - 20 seconds rich and I was in the process of needling it through the 4c-2c transition towards a rich 2c but not there yet. "Zaaaaap!". Jett runs their engines at the plant to get past the potential of a first run rod failure, and to ensure they perform up to spec.

I preheat all my tight engines now using a thermos of water from the kettle, and it makes a noticable difference. The West has maybe 30-40 runs on it and is still tight up top when cold, same for the Jett .50. But not as tight as when new.