Why didnt I think that it may have been something other than the engine.
Yes, I will try and source just the big end bearing shells. I would like to see new ones there.
I didnt know about the oil rings.
The ride on is 150km away, I have just the engine here, I seem to remember the knock both engaged & disengaged.
For now I have reassembled that engine with the spare rod & piston, I honed the bore & replaced the rings.
Tomorrow is another day, I will finish reassembly and test run on a bench, and then start on the smokey engine.
