Understanding West Bend Rods

[steve welte]

https://youtu.be/XOo4wUPGGwk We have been racing West Bend 820s and US Motor Power 820s for a while now. We thought it would be a good time while building a couple of 820s to share some what we do in building these engines.

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West Bend Connecting Rods - Part 1
Discussion about West Bend connecting rods.....do's and don'ts
YOUTUBE.COM

[Art Romanelli]

Been waiting for something like this , thanks Steve.

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I was wondering, on the flywheel side on the crank , is it a good Idea to have double keyway slots on the crank and flywheel ? I had an 820 on a dirt circle track chasis and sheared the keyway. Anyone ever do this?

[ted johnson]

Thanks, Steve. I've been telling folks about these rods ever since Dave B. let me know, but with the video, PEOPLE CAN NOW SEE IT!! You can get the 310/320 KSI bolts from Bonbright if you like.
As far as the flywheel key goes, I've never had any trouble with the stock setup. I'd think that lapping the wheel to the crank would be better than two keys, but maybe I'm wrong. Ted

[steve welte]

A key is never supposed to be the answer for holding a flywheel or clutch. It is there to correct positioning. If you torque the flywheel or clutch to the proper setting it will never slip. Remember I said torque. I was having trouble with a mac keeping the clutch tight. My friend taught me to use a torque wrench instead of a hold tool and box wrench and to use 30#. It never came loose again with or without a key. I only thought I had it tight. He runs his 820 with no key on the clutch side and never has it slip and thats with a pipe and HR carb setup. I've been doing the flywheels at 35 to 38#

[ted johnson]

I'm like you, Steve. I don't bolt anything important without a torque wrench. Even if you don't want to spend $200 for a name brand wrench, at the very least get one from Harbor Freight. Actually, the reports I've read on their torque wrenches nave been quite good. I keep an HF wrench in my pit toolbox so I can leave the good ones at home.
BTW, I think these how-to videos you've been making are just the thing for the newer members of the sport. I did a tiny bit of tech writing between design projects at Kennedy Space Center, but a five minute video is far easier to understand for the less tech inclined than a two page writeup. Besides, even those of us who've been doing this sort of thing for fifty years still enjoy your efforts. Thanks! Ted

[steve welte]

thanks Ted. This will be the first part of the setting up of the rod and piston for the 820. You probably noticed the loose bearings in the Video. Stay tuned.