John Deere main thrust bearing

Finley got parts in and I am getting ready to get my 4010 LPG 301 engine put back together but just wanted some clarification of how the newer style main thrust bearing get nstalled I have been told that the original bearing with the thrust washer built onto them are no longer available and that this is the new bearing to use with 3 thrust bearings. They said to install 2 thrust bearings towards the flywheel side one in block and one in cap and the other one towards the front with that thrust bearing in the cap. Just seams a little weird to me.

I vaguely remember years ago when I worked at JD parts the 4020 diesels were like that with separate thrust washers now. I think JD installed instructions with them.
I don't think I ever installed any of them though ? But it does makes sense in that you want more surface on the flywheel side because when you push the clutch in all the force is pushing back that direction trying to wear the thrust washers. What is there to keep them from falling out ? is there a groove in the block and caps ? Especially the front one as it sounds like they are only using half ?
I would hope soon someone will come along who has worked on a lot of these and explain how this is to work.

(quoted from post at 10:42:57 05/21/20) I vaguely remember years ago when I worked at JD parts the 4020 diesels were like that with separate thrust washers now. I think JD installed instructions with them.
I don't think I ever installed any of them though ? But it does makes sense in that you want more surface on the flywheel side because when you push the clutch in all the force is pushing back that direction trying to wear the thrust washers. What is there to keep them from falling out ? is there a groove in the block and caps ? Especially the front one as it sounds like they are only using half ?
I would hope soon someone will come along who has worked on a lot of these and explain how this is to work.

Click to expand...

The main caps are making them stay still. Quite easy to. Install. But I am not sure on converting them from one style to the other. I thought both styles were available. I try to disassemble before ordering so I c a n get same style.

Yea I can t seam to figure out how works or how it will stays in place it has some little tabs on the thrust bearing that it kinda rides on the main bearing but nothing on the block or cap. When I ordered it it showed a pic of the bearing that was originally on the engine but when it showed up this is what they sent so I called and they told me it was the new replacement. I also looked it up on JD parts website and it shows the same type of bearing being used so I m not sure what the deal is or what to do.

(quoted from post at 09:51:13 05/21/20) Finley got parts in and I am getting ready to get my 4010 LPG 301 engine put back together but just wanted some clarification of how the newer style main thrust bearing get nstalled I have been told that the original bearing with the thrust washer built onto them are no longer available and that this is the new bearing to use with 3 thrust bearings. They said to install 2 thrust bearings towards the flywheel side one in block and one in cap and the other one towards the front with that thrust bearing in the cap. Just seams a little weird to me.

Click to expand...

"it has some little tabs on the thrust bearing that it kinda rides on the main bearing"

I think you've got it figured out, that reminded me I've installed thrust bearings like that before in the past, not in a DEERE, I think, but I can't remember in what.

Not a DEERE-only thing, but rather an "improved" idea the bearing manufacturers have come up with.

There's some info in the Mahle link below.

https://www.mahle-aftermarket.com/m...s/support_technical_bulletins_pdfs/tb2043.pdf

I GOOGLED John Deere 404 engine thrust bearing and some info came up. I did not spend a lot of time looking and reading,but It did verify what you were told. Try it maybe you can find some images.

(quoted from post at 13:17:01 05/21/20) I GOOGLED John Deere 404 engine thrust bearing and some info came up. I did not spend a lot of time looking and reading,but It did verify what you were told. Try it maybe you can find some images.

Click to expand...

I did some reading on them but I m not sure they will be the same as a 301 gas motor but maybe I just don t want to mess this up.

I been installing the five piece main bearing set in JD engines since they dropped the two piece. Has
been at least 30 years on the John Deere Waterloo engines. The three thrust plates have tangs that engage
to the end / sides of journal bearing halves. You can roll them in with crank in place or set them (two
pieces, One bearing half and one thrust plate to rear) in block using some lube assemble to keep them
together until crank is set in place. I have a rhyme to remember how the three thrust plates go in block.
My rhyme is: Two to the back and two to the bottom! Note that I count one of the three thrust plates
twice. (Counted the bottom rear thrust plate twice). Only one one thrust plate on top bearing on rear in
block and two plates on cap, one on each side of cap. Make sure you align the bottom cap by installing
cap, snugging bolts loosen bolts pry crankshaft to rear to slide cap back then pry crank forward to
perfectly align top and bottom rear plates. Torque cap bolts. Hope this helps. DW