What to make head steam out off ?

[ozzy1100]

Ok boys and girls lathe got power today time to get to work
First job up is two new head steams for both projects
Now in my horded stock pile I'm shore I have some s/s to make them
But as this is the first set I have had to make I'll ask the ? Of those that
Know what's the best bet for steam's, ally( what grade) mid or the s/s
And do make them solid or take the center out like factory new ones.
Cheers lynton

[latheboy]

I wouldn't use Al. but that's just me, i'm sure someone has done it.

MS should be ok, I would use the SS or get some 4140. It's much nicer material to use, machines well and it's a bit harder than MS.
Or go all out and get some tool steel (H13 is nice) then harden it and grind to size.
If you use any grade of steel I think you should get it zinced gold or black, blue is shitty...
This is just so it doesn't rust and it will.

Drill a hole all the way through, it'll bring the weight done. Measure a stock one for the hole size.

[probike]

late gsxr are alloy

[latheboy]

I didn't know that... But this late model "water" cooled stuff will never catch on...

[Hillsy]

What's a head steam ??

[Fight_fan]

Its what happens if u run around on a hot day with a hat on, then go into a cool room n take ur hat off!

[MuZ]

I'd Go with free cutting mild like latheboy said, it's much nicer to work with and has a slightly higher tensile strength than 1020 mild I reckon ally wouldn't be great simply because it's soft and will wear easy, Suzuki may use ally in their head steams but they pay engineers to pick the right grade then spend millions of rods testing it

[Hillsy]

I'm still confused...

[Tony Nitrous]

quote:Originally posted by ozzy1100

Ok boys and girls lathe got power today time to get to work
First job up is two new head stems for both projects

You can make bottom yolk stem's ?

Do you have a press to remove / refit them ?

Can I be your friend ?

[ozzy1100]

Lol Tony you would trust some one that can't spell.
But yes press at work and can machine.
Sorry hillys stem is what I meant.
Thanks to lathe and muz have looked have s/s
mild and 4140 here at home some 1 on other forum said no to
s/s but fucked if I can see why(and it won't rust)
Btw 1 or 2 thou for crush sound right I used to go by
a thou a inch crush for work
and s/s is a pain to work with but always was told
low speed and high feed never gone wrong

[ozzy1100]

made one stem out of s/s but have a contac for 7075 t651 ally(aka super doopa ally)
so ill prob remake it really just had to have a play with my new toy
set up the head stock and tail stock as per book
it wasnt to bad for a 40 yr old machine was only out 2.5 thu over the 6 " test cut
got lucky with changeing it took a quess at what grub srew moved the head what way and 1st time
got just under 1/2 thu over 6 " stright very happy wasnt game to touch it in case i ened up chaseing that mark for hrs (been there on machinery)

test cuts



a look see at how to fit the yammy yokes to the zx14 forks to my zephyr



the two outer are the zephyr and yammy 1800 stems