MTFCA Forum

Due to the heating process of pouring Babbitt, is t best to machine the cylinders and deck surface before or after the Babbitt is poured? I can think of reasons to justify both ways but what's more widely accepted?

Heating the bearing saddles for babbitt doesn't require a temp that would efect the cast iron. My cylinder boring bar is a Repco, same as a van Norman and uses the saddles for clamping, so bore before pour, although I did make a clamp for it to do when babbitt isn't going to be replaced.

I have mine bored prior to pouring the bearings, but leave the final honing until after the bearings are poured, mainly to ensure all is clean before building.
Allan from down under.