These engine bearings, Tri-Metal 77, combine the strength of a copper-lead alloy layer with steel backing and an electroplated babbitt metal.
The steel backing provides durability and strength, while the babbitt overlay offers the critical surface characteristics of conformability and slipperiness.
This design has properties not found in many original equipment bearings.
Clevite offers rod bearings, main bearings, and cam bearings in this series.
H Series - Best to start with when unsure which bearing to choose.
Medium level of eccentricity and high crush.
Enlarged chamfers for greater crankshaft fillet clearance.
Made without flash plating for better seating.
Use with crankshafts that have oversized fillets.
Use with engines that run mid-high RPM range.
Contact patterns should ideally cover 2/3 to 3/4 of the bearing surface.
P Series - Typically the greatest level of eccentricity.
Rods and mains have high crush for maximum retention.
Most are fully grooved to maximize oil flow to rod bearings.
Reduced overlay thickness to prevent overlay fatigue.
Use where extremely high RPMs cause severe rod bore close-in.
Use where higher eccentricity is desired to narrow bearing contact patterns.
V Series - This series essentially duplicates Clevite's former Vandervell parts.
Typically low to medium eccentricity.
Not available with oversized chamfers.
No flash plating on the steel back.
All Clevite main bearing sets use a single-piece thrust bearing.
Narrowed parts available to accommodate increased crankshaft fillet clearance.
Lead-indium overlay offers slightly better conformability.
M Series - These are special purpose bearings having a nominal .005" thick Babbitt lining on a hardened steel back.
They are intended mainly for Blown Fuel engines where severe crankshaft deflections cause edge loading of the bearings.
Under these operating conditions, bearing service life will be very short.
Frequent inspection and replacement is recommended.
Part Number Key H - High-Performance, HD - High-Performance bearing with dowel hole, HK - High-Performance bearing with.
