Connecting rod play

[mrmagoo]

Hi All

Carrying out 1949 B33 engine reassembly and noticed some rocking/tilting play on the connecting rod (big end stationary, small end able to move in the same direction as the shafts).
The big end has fairly new replacement (<500 miles) but not sure if rocking was already present the time of being new.
There is no up/down play (movement inline with connecting rod) on the crank pin, and there is some clearance (approx. 0.5-1 mm) for the connecting rod to traverse on the crank pin (lateral slide).
The rocking movement only amounts to about 1mm at the top and temperature in workshop is around 2°C, so suspect non issue however any confirmation by those more experienced is welcome i.e. is this indicative of poor connecting rod race/bush that is going to cause me later issues?

Service manuals I have viewed don't seem to list spacing gaps or tolerances etc. so advice on what is acceptable limits would help.

If this does need work, any recommendations of where can take it around Surrey, UK area.

Thanks in advance.

[Pete C]

I don't think the rocking is a problem if it is only around 1 mm at the small end, there needs to be some clearance of the big end rollers.

I seem to remember that the sideways play at the big end should, according to BSA, be 10-12 thou ( 0.3mm) although every one that  I have seen has been greater, without causing problems. Of course I can't find where I read the 10-12 thou figure now and I think it is just important that there should not be less than this clearance.

Have a look at the technical section at http://wdbsa.nl/ or ask on the forum. There are a few people there with a lot of experience.

[idie]

There is always a small amount of rock at the end of the con rod.

[AdrianS]

I wouldn't be worried with just 1 mm play at the little end!

[chaz]

dont forget the mutiplication factor, a small amount of movement at the bottom will be exagerated by the length, the longer the rod, the more play

[Dean Southall]

........the longer the rod, the more play