Patent ID: 8079145

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a connecting rod assembly for use within an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: defining a small end of a connecting rod assembly having a terminal end, defining a pin bore extending through the small end of the connecting rod assembly and forming a pair of channels on opposite sides of the small end of the connecting rod assembly such that each of said pair of channels defines an arc disposed about an axis wherein the axis of each of the channels is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pin bore; forming at least partially annular grooves within the pin bore adjacent the distal ends of the pin bore; machining the connecting rod assembly to reduce the width of the small end between each channel and the terminal end to provide a small end having a reduced width configuration, wherein the annular grooves are disposed along at least a portion of the distal ends to reduce the need to deburr the area adjacent the pin bore.