Jarrid:
As Jim, Lou, Greg and others have already mentioned, hardness after
machining indicates that the rockers probably have a deep case that will
withstand several resurfacings before going through the case. Even after
going though the case, they could still be re-hardened, using Kasenite
or other carburising compounds, or using a cyanide or nitriding process.
If the rockers are made of medium carbon steel, (and I think they are)
there is a good possibility that they have been flame-hardened or
induction-hardened by heating surfaces to austenitic (800-1000C.)
temperature quickly and then quickly being quenched in water or air
blast. Since this is a cheaper and more convenient manufacturing
process, I think this is likely and could more easily be done in the
home shop than other case-hardening processes.
Ron Tebo
P.S. I was talking to a local custom robotic mig-tig weldor recently and
he said that he would charge about $5000 U.S. to develop a
jig-positioner for the headers, and this would have to be paid up front.
(I showed him one as an example). I think a header manufacturer would be
cheaper but there are none in this area (everything is imported from the
U.S. or Eastern Canada).
Jarrid Gross wrote:
>
> Alpiners,
>
> Decided to get off my rear, and get back to alpining, when
> I stumbled across a couple sets of rocker towers I was going
> to do something with.
>
> I decided that I would lighten and polish them like the rootes works
> racers did in the good ole days.
> I actually sat down and polished 1 to see what was involved.
>
> The good news is "it CAN be done".
> The bad news is that the rockers are steel, not cast iron
> like I originally thought, and with well over an hours effort
> I was able only to smooth the casting flash and polish
> a single rocker.
>
> Now, before I get all gung ho about the other 7, would
> someone give me a good technical reason for why I should
> do this.
> "Smooth" sounds good, they look pretty, but if stress relief is
> the consensus, then is shot peening a better bet, or should
> I do both?
>
> While were on rockers, after I regrind the radius's on the rocker
> tips, what should I do to re-harden them?
> Years ago, we discussed casenite, but that was when I thought
> that the rockers were cast iron?
>
> Tom W. metalurgist et al?
>
> Jarrid Gross
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