I saw on another forum some body talking about using rods out of a 96-99 in a 93-95. They took and measured them in every way (length, width, hole sizes, etc..) and they were identical. They even took and put one wrist pin through both rods and they sit next to each other like they came off a production line back to back, only difference it seems is the part number. Did honda just switch the part number on the newer engine? Has anyone actually already done this? I have a set of 4 rods out of a 99 coming that I got on Ebay for $40 so I am hoping they'll work in my 93 like they were saying.

 

I received my rods today and they do appear identical. I will post pics soon so you guys can see. I even took a bearing out of one of my rods and they fit the new ones like a glove, wrist pins fit perfect, I do believe Honda just changed the part number for the rods in the new engine. I will be using a micrometer on them to verify just how close they are, but I am not seeing any issues right now. I also stumbled into a custom bike shop today that normally only works on v-twins and the guy told me he had an engine out of a 95 900rr sitting in the back and he'd sell it cheap to get it out of the way, picking it up tomorrow, replacing a bent shift fork and I may have another engine up for sale here soon Kind of sucks I have put so much into finding/buying a new crank, rods, oil pump, main and rod bearings, new gasket set, etc.... just to find a running engine lol. But either way I should be up and running again this weekend.

 

Full engine rebuild I'd assume?

 

Yeah, I am doing a full rebuild on the original motor. Right now I bought the other motor for $300, it ended up being a 919, but it is all up and running for now. Can't decide if I want to sell the rebuilt engine or swap it back onto my bike and have a fresh engine. As far as the original question about the rods, I still am not seeing any issue in using the newer rods.