How many times can rod and main bolts be torqued?

I don't see anywhere I have made a recommendation for your case either way. I will tell you this. If I were in your place, I would use the rod bolts again so quick, I wouldn't have time to think about it. How's that for a recommendation? lol

Thats good to know that you would do that, I am inclined to go that route lol


yes, when you tighten a bolt, you get both plastic and elastic deformation.

Elastic deformation is stretching that goes back when the load is released. (Like a spring, it goes back when unloaded).

Plastic deformation is when the bolt stretches PERMANENTLY and does not go back when unloaded.


You cannot measure plastic deformation with the bolt under clamp load.


It is difficult to get an accurate reading for bolt length unless the bolts are ground flat/parallel and with centers drilled in them. Otherwise the ridges that are made when they form the bolt can throw off the measurements.


Try to measure a bolt 10 times and see if you get the same exact reading every time. If you can't, then your measurement method is not good enough....

You have to use micrometers, not calipers. Calipers are not sensitive enough...

Okay that makes sense, now I didn't take an initial measurement when I got the bolts, but would it be worth it to measure the bolts with a micrometer before I do anything, then torque them to check the bearing clearances, and then measure again to make sure I get the same readings? Because if I notice they stretch then they are definitely not good to use, but If they stay the same then they would have only elastically stretched? Or are the current lengths not significant enough?

And using a micrometer for measuring the bearing clearances is more accurate than using plasti-gauge?