Swapping out a rod/wrist pin bushing for a needle bearing.

Hi folks!
Pulled this fresh two-stroke apart, prior to install and found what I expected. Bushing instead of bearing.

I’m going to swap out the bushing for a needle bearing prior to engine mount.
Can anyone who has done this on a fresh engine please inform me how snug the bushing was in the rod when you removed it?

I was just going to round up a long screw, some washers and a piece of aluminum collar and try to press it out if the bushing will slide out fairly easy?

Moto said:

You can do that - but why? In my personal opinion (people can get touchy about subjects like this) a bushing is as good of not better than a crappy OEM needle bearing because...
A: they run fine / as good
B: They dont destroy the engine when they wear out.
C: Here is a nice bushing / replacement bearing if you go that route: http://juicemotoparts.com/products/high-performance-bronze-bushing-for-motorized-bicycle.html

A great site that I discovered: http://juicemotoparts.com/bearvsbushing

Click to expand...

Awesome info thanks!

MotorBicycleRacing said:

Not a good idea as the needle bearing rods are ground and hardened where they spin in the hole.

Bushing rods are not hardened.

Click to expand...

I can see your point considering the lack of a true quality hardened rod.
I was considering an encased needle bearing considering the number of bushing failures that seem to crop up.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045DWB9G/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

However the bushing Juice sells may be a better choice/upgrade over the supplied bushing.