There seems to be some kind of addiction to stainless hardware and =
components amongst Morgan=20
owners. If you read any of Carroll Smith's books, Prepare to Win, Tune =
to Win, or Engineer to Win,
you will find that he recommends Aircraft Graded hardware only. I admit =
that we often use top quality American made Grade 8 or Grade 6 cadmium =
plated fasteners. We never use Stainless except as cosmetic body =
fasteners. Curtiss Industries distribute a line of Grade 8 Plus hardware =
that is rated at 180,000 psi. If you use these in their fine threaded =
version, SAE, with their "prevailing torque" lock nuts, they will never =
come loose. At least we have never experienced a failure when using =
them. I highly recommend that anyone working on their own car for any =
kind of high speed competition read and study at least Prepare to Win =
and also Engineer to Win . Your car can only become faster and more =
reliable. It will also be safer.
As far as spokes go, I can not claim much expertise, but I would be =
inclined to use high tensile strength carbon steel or "butted" steel as =
opposed to stainless if they are available in these materials. The 72 =
spoke wheels that I race on are very strong, but also very heavy. I =
have never had=20
a spoke even loosen in ten seasons of racing. =20
=
Regards, Greg Solow
-----Original Message-----
From: FPS3@aol.com [SMTP:FPS3@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, October 09, 1998 4:56 AM
To: morgans@Autox.Team.Net
Subject: Stainless spokes, nuts and bolts
I just noticed that I have a single broken spoke on the rear wheel of my
trike. The wheels were rebuilt by British Wire Wheel about three years =
ago and
are "tight". The spoke is sheared about an inch out of the hub.
The wheels take a lot of punishment when racing, especially the rear. I
corner in "drifts" which is really enjoyable and very controllable. =
However,
it is rough on the rear wheel. Not many spokes (40?) to take the load.
Stainless "work hardness" and I am wondering if this is a know problem =
with
stainless spokes in a racing application or just a fluke.
I will call British Wire this PM for advice. I can't imagine this being
=
a
problem with a 72 spoke wheel, but still I was wondering if anyone has =
had any
negative experiences with stainless spokes.
I must admit that I have never checked the spokes for =
tightness/adjustment-
but I am going to!
I have also noticed that stainless bolts feel quite different when you
tighten them. Stainless is known to gaul and antiseize is recommended =
when
using stainless nuts and bolts. I have stainless bolts threading into =
mild
steel for fender mounts and notice that they have a tendency to be =
either
tight or loose- no in-between. It is like tightening against a rock.
Stainless looks good but is not recommended for high stress =
applications-
which would seem to include spokes, at least mine.
Fred Sisson
=00=00
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