Connecting rod bearings

[huntin dawg]

I have a '91 40 HP "Classic", Oil injected 4 cylinder. The top cylinder is binding. I thought it might be a broken ring but turns out the piston, rings, and cylinder are perfect. Turning it with a wrench on the flywheel nut I can hear grinding/catching on the crankshaft. I can only assume the bearings are shot. When I turn it by hand it will free up if I turn it back and forth a bit. Then I can crank it with the starter a few times before it locks up again.
How bad of a job is it to crack it open and replace the bearings? Is there a good chance the crankshaft is shot too or is the steel in the crank harder than the bearings?
I have zero dollars invested in this motor and just wondering if it's worth the effort to crack it open and fix it to sell it or just part it out now.

Thanks,
HD

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Connecting rod bearings

If the crank bearings are bad ,usually the crank is toast. Pull it apart to see exactly what has failed as there are tons of used parts for this model. Sounds more like the lower main bearing is shot...