Connecting rod installation

[Gungho]

I recently purchased a 2000 jetta tdi that has a messed up engine due to timing belt failure. Anyway long story short I didn't tear the engine apart I got it in pieces. Which way do the rods get installed on pistons. There is a 76 on the bottom of the rod cap with a line under it. Does the line face forward or does the number face forward? Also are the wrist pins supposed to be snug in the pistons? They slip right in the rods and turn but are really tight in the pistons and don't turn. Thanks for the help

 

[Drivbiwire]

You may have the bearing caps reversed...

Rods should move quite freely!

 

[Dodoma]

Look in the Bently's manual to get answer to your question.

 

[Gungho]

You may have the bearing caps reversed...

Rods should move quite freely!

I'm not sure where you got anything about rod bearing caps from what I said. I'm talking about wrist pins and which direction the rods get installed on the pistons.

 

[Gungho]

Look in the Bently's manual to get answer to your question.

Where do I get this bently manual?

 

[Drivbiwire]

Where? You really need to learn how to search the internet...

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_7fnyq3r8ol_b

And WHAT are you doing taking your engine apart without it!!!

 

[Alchemist]

Where? You really need to learn how to search the internet...

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_7fnyq3r8ol_b

And WHAT are you doing taking your engine apart without it!!!

From the OP: I recently purchased a 2000 jetta tdi that has a messed up engine due to timing belt failure. Anyway long story short I didn't tear the engine apart I got it in pieces. Which way do the rods get installed on pistons. There is a 76 on the bottom of the rod cap with a line under it. Does the line face forward or does the number face forward? Also are the wrist pins supposed to be snug in the pistons? They slip right in the rods and turn but are really tight in the pistons and don't turn. Thanks for the help

Perhaps a more careful reading of the question would result in a more appropriate answer.

 

[KLXD]

People aren't just messing with you. You NEED the manual. Not only will it answer your question; it will prevent you from making mistakes.

Like putting the motor together with bolts that are supposed to be replaced not reused.

It is common for pins to be a press fit in the pistons. Dunno off hand about TDI's.

Don't know about the orientation off hand either.

 

[Gungho]

So pretty much in a nutshell get this bently book and there is no need for this forum cause nobody knows or can tell me. Gotcha

 

[maxmoo]

So pretty much in a nutshell get this bently book and there is no need for this forum cause nobody knows or can tell me. Gotcha

Give it some time... there are lots here that can answer your questions....some of us can't.

Don't be too quick to judge everyone on this forum based on a couple of flippant replies......

Personaly, anyone doing there own wrenching needs the manual and vcds....

http://www.bentleypublishers.com/volkswagen/

http://www.ross-tech.com/products.html

 

[Drivbiwire]

So pretty much in a nutshell get this bently book and there is no need for this forum cause nobody knows or can tell me. Gotcha

This forum is here to help, not spoon feed you every single detail.

At this point stop until you have the manual and VCDS to make the repair, that much is obvious and why its best you not go any further until you have the required tools.

If you want to be spoon fed, hourly rates start at $150 an hour and go up from there....

If you want advice after acquiring the required tools and resource material, thats always free...

Help us Help you!

 

[Gungho]

Yeah I spoon feed people all the time in my service truck. Been a mechanic for 25 years. Rebuilt a lot of engines. I have the vcds software. The only thing i dont have is this apparently very special book. Guess I was just hoping someone had some input on the very simple question I asked because I really don't want to buy another book for a one time use.

 

[Gungho]

Guess if you can't answer the simple question i asked at the beginning maybe you shouldn't answer.

 

[Drivbiwire]

You need the book, there are variables of size, direction, clearances, that you have not addressed.

The fact you installed the rods and they aren't rotating is a sign that you have missed a SIGNIFICANT step that is addressed in the repair manual.

Also, you have more than likely skipped the step about REPLACING the fasteners, again something addressed in the manual.

Do you know the temperatures that the parts need to be heated to in order to disassemble or re-assemble?

 

[Vince Waldon]

I think the point some are trying to make, gracefully or not, is that rebuilding an engine requires a bunch of information specific to that particular engine, *all* of which is in the service manual, and *much* of which the person doing his/her first TDI rebuild won't even know to ask on the interwebs, regardless of their years of experience with other engines.

In the case of this particular engine, stuff like:

- which bolts are re-usable and which aren't... there are many that aren't, for several different reasons
- all the various torque specs
- torque sequences
- clearances for bearings and rings
- how to determine the correct head gasket to order... it may not be the same as the one that was on there

If you have the manual you're told everything you need to know in the logical order you need to know it... if you only use the interwebs you're only asking the questions you know to ask... not always the same as the ones you should be asking.

It's not rocket science or secret stuff... just a lot of details that are specific to that particular engine design, and all nicely arranged and easily accessible in one thick service manual.

 

[Gungho]

Never said I installed anything. The question once again is "are the wrist pins supposed to spin freely in the piston" because when i put the wrist pins in my new pistons it requires a bit of tapping to get them in, the other question was "which way is forward on the rod". I was simply asking a question because I can't find the info, before I install the rods on the pistons. I have a manual just not the manual that you people say I need. I have all the new fasteners that I need. I have all the clearance specs that I need except if the pins are supposed to be tight in the pistons. Maybe if you are a master vw mechanic you can look in your book and let me know if it gives a wrist pin to piston clearance and the correct way to install the rods on the pistons( wouldn't need this info if I tore the engine apart).

 

[Drivbiwire]

http://pics.tdiclub.com/showfull.php?photo=116239

 

[maxmoo]

Never said I installed anything. The question once again is "are the wrist pins supposed to spin freely in the piston" because when i put the wrist pins in my new pistons it requires a bit of tapping to get them in, the other question was "which way is forward on the rod". I was simply asking a question because I can't find the info, before I install the rods on the pistons. I have a manual just not the manual that you people say I need. I have all the new fasteners that I need. I have all the clearance specs that I need except if the pins are supposed to be tight in the pistons. Maybe if you are a master vw mechanic you can look in your book and let me know if it gives a wrist pin to piston clearance and the correct way to install the rods on the pistons( wouldn't need this info if I tore the engine apart).

I have a brand new oem alh assembled piston/rod in my hand.
The wrist pin spins freely in both the rod and piston.
Most after market pistons need to have the wrist pin bushing "sized" by a machine shop....not sure about OEM pistons though.

The line under the 74 is on the same side as the arrow on top of the piston is pointing.
Or another way...The cutout notches for the rod bearing are both on the same side as the bowl on top of the piston......hope that makes sense and helps.

 

[Gungho]

Thankyou for your help. I figured the wrist pins were supposed to spin free in the pistons. Just needed someone else's input. I will take the pistons to the machine shop in the morning and have them bushings sized to fit wrist pins correctly. I understand what you are saying about the rods. Once again thankyou for the simple answer.

 

[jimbote]

looks like maxmoo beat me to it ... nevermind the above negative responses ... while a manual is nice some of these guys couldn't find their way out of wet paper bag without a bentley and some hand holding

 

[Gungho]

LMAO that is funny