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Orientation for connecting rods?

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bigjohnson

Regular Contributor
I'm rebuilding a 60hp johnson 1990 and the service manual on one page says the connecting rods can face ether way.....up or down.
Then on another page it says the two dots must face up towards the
Flywheel.
I know the dots must align but do the dots have to face up
Or down and does it matter?
I know the piston face up.
Just wondering why the discrepancy?
 
Part # of the rod ?----Is there an oil hole at the small end of the rod.----If so the oil hole must on top side.
 
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Oil hole on the small end of rods are on the sides.
Crank side of the rod there is no holes but the sides of
The cap and rods are open on both sides for oiling.
So, seems to me they will be equally lubricated regardless
If the dots are up or down.
Actually, the guy that rebuilt this engine before me had the dots
Facing down.
This motor had been rebuilt before .03 over.
I bought this rig used at a great price.
I think the technical writer for the service manual got mixed up on his instructions.
Part no 327211
 
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The manual plainly states the connecting rod has no specific orientation..only mention of dots is aligning the rod cap..
 
Seems, then, that the service manual is contradictory. Who wrote the manual? I have seen this before. Sometimes there is more than one author.
 
It's a PDF I got online.
The outside first page is blue and says
Omc johnson outboards at the top and
Omc evinrude outboards at the bottom.
Looks like all the paper service manuals.
I have some paperback service manuals and it looks the same.
Also page 4-18 says no specific orientation.
 
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Here's why I'm asking.
I did not concern myself with the orientation because that's what the manual
Said so the all the pistons are installed and the head gasket.
The forward side of the case has not been assembled yet.
So, when I got to installing the caps....later in the book.
It now says make sure the dots are towards the flywheel.
The top two piston assemblies the dots face down (the way I bought it)and the
Piston I replaced the bottom one is facing up (by chance).
I only had to worry about the bottom piston only since it was the
One that got jacked up by the previous owner.
I replaced rings on all of them with a new piston on bottom.
I would like for someone with more experience than me
To say it's ok like it is or buy a new head gasket and reassemble
The pistons and rods all alike?
 
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Pistons are clearly marked for UP.----All 3 must be installed with UP towards the flywheel.---Done to line up ports and to keep ring gap in the right place and away from ports.------Any pictures of this puzzle ?---
 
Piston are facing up
Dots line up
It's just the top two piston assemblies the dots are facing away from the flywheel
And the bottom piston the dots are facing up.
Picture this:
With the dots facing the flywheel the OIL hole is to the left side of motor
With the dots facing down away from the flywheel the OIL hole is
To the right side of the motor.
It all comes down to
Is the rod bearing next to wrist pin going to get the proper oil? That's it
 
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Sorry -----I have said it many times that oil and lubrication in a 2 stroke is not well understood.-----And also my help is sometimes not appreciated either.----Do what you think is best for your motor.---Sorry to be so blunt.
 
Thanks for the input
My thoughts are "when in doubt" do it again.
I will disassemble
Making certain the dots face up.
Can this head gasket be used again or should I
Buy another?
 
Took 1 1/2 hours to just fix.
Pistons up.
Dots aligned.
Dots facing flywheel.
Done
I reused the head gasket since it did not look too squeezed.
New gasket sealant and ready too go.
I'm now going to read 4/5 pages ahead to make sure I'm not
Missing something

Thanks for response
 
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