Fred T,
I am not sure where your theory came from on the "stretching of the rods", but unless I were to read it in the Book-O-Bolts, I'm not buying it. In my experience, (limited) every application involving tremendous bearing loads used babbit in lieu of ball, roller etc. It would seem to me if a force was generated strong enough to tweek a babbit rod, then it would do the same to a inserted rod! Maybe I didn't understand your statement.
Stuart.
