Redesigned connecting rod

Redesigned connecting rod.

Connecting Rod Redesign

A customer's concerns about the longevity of the little end bushes in a locomotive connecting rod led to examination of the bearing pressures which were found to be too high resulting in lubrication film breakdown and excessive wear. Stress analysis of the rod eye also revealed unacceptably high stress levels in use which could have led to failure of the rod in service. As a result the connecting rod was redesigned as a steel forging with a wider little end boss to reduce bearing pressures and a thicker section eye to reduce stresses to a safe level.