Why did this happen, 440 rods.

I suspect the problems occurred before you even owned it. Putting it down the road on it's side with the engine screaming and no oil pressure, or running low on oil can do it.

The z900 series roller bearing cranks can tolerate temporary oil starvation a lot better. Another reason I try to avoid power wheelies on these.

I'll bet the PO put STP in it before he sold it. I drove my 63 Dodge Dart for two years with a bad rod bearing. I parked it and left
. It was going CKACK CLACK........
Didn't die. STP kept it running. :whistle:
Steve

The guy I bought it from never got it running, it just sat in his garage for five years. Who knows how long it sat before that.

The guy was going through a divorce and stored the bike at my brothers house which is how I stumbled upon it. He needed it gone so I offered him a $100 thinking it was at least worth that in parts I could use on my other 440.

As long as the crank isn't scored or out of round, you can put in new bearings. What's this about three different kinds of rods? Are they set up with bearings or are they naked and longer or shorter? :huh:
Sorry, I'm a little gun shy about them now. :whistle:
At least you have the internet and here to find out. I wish i had a place like this when I started working on my own bike 43 years ago. :dry:
Steve

Mainbearing and big end journals, crankcases and rods are all marked in the factory according to their size. The markings are really difficult to see, like the paint colour codes of the different size inserts. It might be two different sizes, not three, on the crank.

Mic the crank and if within spec use it.
Use any new bearing you can get ahold of.
The size difference is not that much and the
availability is very near nill.
I had a similar problem with a 'customers' bike.
Starts on the bottom of page 7.
www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=39120.0


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Nebr Just looked at it, nice work.