THE CONNECTING ROD
The connecting rod, as you can guess from its name, forms the connecting link between the piston and crank shaft, transferring the energy of the explosive gas, acting behind the piston, to the crank shaft and fly wheel, from which it can be transmitted to the driving wheels of the automobile. It is made up in some such form as shown in [Fig. 18] and is made of steel or bronze. It has a bearing at each end, the smaller one fitting around the piston pin, the larger one surrounding a portion of the crank shaft called the crank pin. Both of these bearings are lubricated by oil which splashes up from the bottom of the crank case when the engine is running. You will notice that one of the bearings is cut in two and bolted together so that you can take it off from the crank shaft, should you wish to examine it.
Fig. 18—A typical Connecting Rod.
Fig. 19—The two halves of the Connecting Rod Bearing.