About two years ago, maybe less, I bought a used 200tdi 78k but found it had a bent conrod.
It ran fine except for some smoke so tracked it down to one cylinder and upon investigation found the bent conrod.

Conrod replaced and we decided to fit new big end shells as well while the engine was out.
Conrod and Big end shells fitted, torqued up to 44lbs feet as per manual but engine wouldn't turn.
Big end shells were standard size

Slackened one end cap off a little and hey presto it turned, a little stiff but turned over with spanner on pulley.
Once reinstated in the 90 she started first turn and ran lovely with no smoke, up to temp and then switched off anf left for a bit then started again just to make sure, all ok clean exhaust and sounded right.

Left it about two years due to other things happening, then came to sort it out because I sold it to a mate. Engine solid, couldn't even turn it with a socket and big bar so we took it out today.
Slackened big end nuts off half a turn each and she turned over like a good un.

Going to get new shells on Mon and some new nuts if I can

What I would like to know is can I locktite the nuts and torque it at a bit less so it is free to turn.
And what is the problem do you think? the shells are marked STD so unless they are wrongly marked up I have a problem.
Thank you

Don't loctite, its trying to tell you something is wrong so listen to it! I think you need to get the sump off and start measuring things to find out if something is distorted by the previous blow-up.

you need to find out why, i use loctite on internal fittings but only with correct torque, you need to find out why ie poor shells, damaged crank journals ,mixed caps and rods ,caps the wrong way round (should be fitted with both anti rotation notches together on cam side )

jamesmartin said:

you need to find out why, i use loctite on internal fittings but only with correct torque, you need to find out why ie poor shells, damaged crank journals ,mixed caps and rods ,caps the wrong way round (should be fitted with both anti rotation notches together on cam side )

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Thanks for that, we could have sorted it

The lad who helped me fit the bearings was ok but had no finesse if you know what I mean,
I was ill at the time and needed help so maybe the caps were/are wrong, I'll have a look on Monday

Got to be something simple like that because the crank miked up ok when we did it, it had been hydraulic ed and bent a rod.