[Super Bleeder!!]

I have a real hard time believing you can throw a rod on those things by running 500rpm over the factory fuel cut.

The factor of safety used to design the rotating assembly is usually enough to accommodate all sorts of unforseen load factors, because its easier to overdesign something than it is to constantly fix it under warranty.

Maybe you had a slightly defective rod from the factory and over time it fatigued and failed.