Mixing the colors of the bearings

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thunderchild
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Mixing the colors of the bearings

#1

Post by thunderchild »

Here is something I pick up from another site and thought it might be helpful and a big expense.
But it is getting harder to fine bearing, at least some color ones. It really has become THE RAIDER'S OF THE LOST BEARING. And yes it is easier to just get another motor.

Here is a chart of Honda B series bearing thickness by color. To calculate actual bearing clearance, use the following formula:

BC = IDBT – ODC – (2 x BT)

BC = bearing clearance
IDBT = inside diameter of bearing tunnel (housing bore)
ODC = outside diameter of crank journal
BT = bearing thickness

Main Bearing thickness by color
Blue 2.013-2.010 mm 0.0793”- 0.0791”
Black 2.010-2.007 mm 0.0791”- 0.0790”
Brown 2.007-2.004 mm 0.0790”- 0.0789”
Green 2.004-2.001 mm 0.0789”- 0.0788”
Yellow 2.001-1.998 mm 0.0788”- 0.0787”
Pink 1.998-1.995 mm 0.0787”- 0.0785”
Red 1.995-1.992 mm 0.0785”- 0.0783”

Rod bearing thickness by color
Blue 1.510-1.507 mm 0.0594”- 0.0593”
Black 1.507-1.504 mm 0.0593”- 0.0592”
Brown 1.504-1.501 mm 0.0592”- 0.0591”
Green 1.501-1.498 mm 0.0591”- 0.0590”
Yellow 1.498-1.495 mm 0.0590”- 0.0589”
Pink 1.495-1.492 mm 0.0589”- 0.0587”
Red 1.492-1.489 mm 0.0587”- 0.0586”

Although most people do not have inside micrometers, bearing micrometers or snap gauges, you can still use this chart when using plastigage to check bearing clearance. If you want to increase or decrease a bearing clearance, you can calculate how much of a color change is necessary by looking at the changes on the chart. Remember you can mix colors for even a more fine-tuning but it would not be wise to jump more than one color. In other words, do not mix a brown and yellow bearing together to equal a green clearance value. Just use the greens together. It is ok to mix a green with a yellow or a green with a brown. When doing your rebuild and replacing bearings with like colors, you still must check your results with plastigage to be sure. Don’t assume anything. Also remember, when swapping to aftermarket rods, throw the color codes away as they will not work anymore. You need to start from scratch to obtain your desired clearance. On the other hand, you really cannot measure accurately to the nearest .0001” without machinist quality tools, so don’t get carried away on that last one ten thousandth of an inch variance.
http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=715490
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Whiskerfish
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Re: Mixing the colors of the bearings

#2

Post by Whiskerfish »

Useful information!!

I am gonna move this to the cross over forum
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
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and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
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Re: Mixing the colors of the bearings

#3

Post by dan filipi »

Just curious, that's a Honda car/Acura forum.
Do the dimensions/color hold true for Honda motorcycles?
'83 Interstate and an
'83 parts bike

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thunderchild
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Re: Mixing the colors of the bearings

#4

Post by thunderchild »

dan filipi wrote:Just curious, that's a Honda car/Acura forum.
Do the dimensions/color hold true for Honda motorcycles?
I post this for the use of using different bearings. So if you don't have on side of a bearing you might be able to use another color for the other side. I'm trying to stir the pot here. :stirthepot: Not sure if Honda B series bearing is the same but I'm sure someone here like Ross would have a list of thickness by color. The thickness was talked about on Steve Saunders Forums as well. http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/forum1/112814.html

Swapping color still should apply here just as long as you plasticgage everything to make sure you have the right oil clearance or bearing clearance.
"The trouble with the world is not that people know so little,
but that they know so many things that ain't so." -- Mark Twain

Current bikes:
75 GL1000
76 CAFE GL1000
76 YELLOW GL1000
76 LTD GL1000
77 GL1000
VT1100 AERO
two CT90
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