655958 - TCM Continental Motors OEM Connecting Rod Bolt

655958 – TCM Continental Motors OEM Connecting Rod Bolt

Available now on the Airparts.aero Marketplace.

Overview

The Continental 655958 is a flight-critical, OEM connecting rod bolt, representing the pinnacle of fastener engineering for reciprocating aircraft engines. This bolt is the counterpart to the 654490 nut and serves as the primary structural fastener for the connecting rod assembly in a wide range of Continental engines. It is meticulously engineered to endure extreme cyclical tensile and shear loads generated during engine operation. Manufactured from the highest quality vacuum-arc remelt (VAR) steel alloy and subjected to rigorous quality control, the 655958 is designed to be elastically stretched to a precise preload, ensuring the connecting rod cap and body remain rigidly clamped under all conditions. As a single-use fastener, it is a mandatory replacement item during any engine overhaul.

Key Features

• Aircraft-Grade VAR Steel: Forged from superior-quality, vacuum-arc remelt (VAR) steel alloy. This advanced refining process minimizes impurities and creates a homogenous grain structure, providing exceptional fatigue strength and resistance to fracture.
• Rolled Threads & Fillets: Features threads and under-head fillets that are formed by rolling, not cutting. This compressive process strengthens the material's grain structure at these high-stress points, drastically increasing fatigue life compared to machined fasteners.
• Engineered for Elasticity: Specifically designed to stretch a controlled amount when torqued. This elastic elongation is what generates the vital clamping force required to prevent bearing shift and maintain the integrity of the rod journal.
• Mandatory Single-Use Item: This is a "torque-to-yield" style fastener. Once it has been installed and stretched to its operational preload, its material properties are altered. It must be discarded and replaced if ever loosened to guarantee safety.
• Genuine Continental OEM Part: Guarantees the part is manufactured to the exact material specifications, heat-treating processes, and dimensional tolerances required by the FAA-approved engine type certificate.

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: 655958
• Component Type: Connecting Rod Bolt
• Mating Nut: Continental P/N 654490
• Material: VAR (Vacuum-Arc Remelt) High-Tensile Steel Alloy
• Manufacturing Process: Hot-forged with rolled threads and fillets
• Inspection Requirement: Subject to magnetic particle inspection (MPI) as per manufacturer standards.
• Application Method: Torque-to-stretch via calibrated torque wrench.
• Certification: FAA Production Approval

Engine Compatibility

The Continental 655958 connecting rod bolt is specified for use in the same vast range of Continental engine models as its mating nut, P/N 654490. It is essential to consult the specific engine's Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) and Overhaul Manual to verify the correct part number.

• Compatible Engine Series:
  • O-470, IO-470, TSIO-470
  • IO-520, TSIO-520
  • GTSIO-520
  • IO-550, TSIO-550
  • Note: Also used in many earlier engine models.

Applications

The 655958 bolt serves a single, indispensable purpose within the engine:

• Rotating Assembly Fastener: Used in pairs to clamp the connecting rod cap to the connecting rod body, securing the assembly around the crankshaft's crankpin journal. This joint transfers the full force of combustion from the piston to the crankshaft.
• Mandatory Overhaul Component: Must be replaced as a set with new units whenever connecting rods are disassembled for service or during a major engine overhaul.

Why Choose 655958?

In aircraft engine building, the integrity of the rotating assembly is paramount. The 655958 bolt is the foundation of that integrity. Using a genuine Continental OEM bolt is the only way to ensure you are installing a component with the correct material pedigree, manufacturing processes, and quality control. The risks associated with using a non-certified or reused bolt—fatigue failure and catastrophic engine destruction—are unacceptable. For professional engine builders and mechanics, installing new, genuine 655958 bolts is a fundamental requirement for an airworthy, reliable, and safe engine.

Order Your 655958 Connecting Rod Bolts Now

Build your engine with the unmatched safety and quality of genuine Continental parts. Visit Airparts.aero to order your set of 655958 connecting rod bolts today.

The Continental 655958 connecting rod bolt is a marvel of materials science and mechanical engineering, designed to live in one of the most violent environments inside an engine. It operates in a state of constant, high-frequency tension cycles. The design principle is to create a clamping force (preload) on the connecting rod joint that is greater than the highest inertial load (tensile load) the joint will see at maximum RPM. This ensures the joint faces never separate, preventing fretting corrosion and eliminating stress reversals that would otherwise cause rapid fatigue failure. The use of clean, high-strength VAR steel is essential because microscopic inclusions found in lesser steels can act as stress risers, becoming the initiation point for a fatigue crack. By adhering to the mandatory replacement schedule and using a new 655958 bolt, mechanics ensure this critical preload is achieved safely and reliably.

Note: This is a single-use, flight-critical component. It MUST be replaced with a new part every time its mating nut is loosened. Installation must be performed by a certified A&P mechanic in strict accordance with the current, applicable Continental Motors Overhaul Manual, including all lubrication, cleaning, and multi-stage torque procedures.

Description: Connecting Rod Bolt 
Part Number: 655958
Teledyne Continental Service Bulletin [ Click Here ]
Alternate Part Numbers: 643112, 655239

Product Overview

Connecting rod bolts are the securing link between the piston assembly and the crankshaft. The rod bolts, because of the need for great strength, are generally made of heat-treated ahoy steel. Fine threads with close pitch are used to give maximum strength and to permit secure tighting.

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