Would you reuse these connecting rods?

Dmftoy1 · Oct 30, 2014

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/i3kgce2xrhaxxuf/AAAwriDMHZdO0uWKsxEPTECFa

Original 68 rods, ~9400 miles on motor.

Looks like prior owner (or maybe prior mechanic) wasn't careful and let them bang against the cases. Mark closes to small end (marked by punches) is just a shiny spot), lower mark can catch a fingernail but that's about it. I'm 99.99% sure I could polish them out on the buffing wheel, but don't want to be stupid and reuse a part I should be . . . (Bike will be a "rider" but I will occasionally be winding it up. . . most of the time it'll just be leisurely cruises 25-30 miles to town for lunch on sunny days though)

Hopefully this picture works . .

74ok · Oct 30, 2014

yup link works for the pix,

you can also make the pix show up in your post like this

mike996 · Oct 30, 2014

midnightlamp · Oct 30, 2014

Take some 800 grit paper, and see if it comes out with a small bit of sanding. If so, buff and I'd reuse them.

bluemax · Oct 30, 2014

Perhaps with a bit of straightening this one might do the job.
Most likely from a combat hand grenade engine, only joking but imagine the forces in play to do this.

ashman · Oct 30, 2014

A bit of heat well fix that conrod, as for a few little marks I would clean them up and reuse them.

Ashley

bluemax · Oct 30, 2014

wont be long before someone mentions using JB weld

Dmftoy1 · Oct 30, 2014

Thanks guys - I'm sure I can polish them smooth. . .just paranoid about con-rods for some reason

comnoz · Oct 30, 2014

I would reuse them since they are low mileage. I would sand the notches out starting with around 200 grit and working up to a polish. Sand and polish only lengthwise -never across the beam of the rod. Jim

Hobot · Oct 30, 2014

With the JBW ya can skip the sanding and just wet finger smear it smooth as glass, sheeze. Still they are Norton factory rods and according to the lore here implies asking your self - just how lucky do ya feel.

cjandme · Oct 30, 2014

hobot said:
With the JBW ya can skip the sanding and just wet finger smear it smooth as glass, sheeze. Still they are Norton factory rods and according to the lore here implies asking your self - just how lucky do ya feel.

hobot, I think that you may be missing the point, the idea is not to cover up the stress riser with epoxy making it as "smooth as glass" on the outside, but to remove it from the connecting rod metal altogether with the course sand paper then to remove the scratches from the course sand paper with the finer and finer sand paper until the metal is void of all stress risers.

Hobot · Oct 30, 2014

Not to worry hobot ain't missing a thing on scratches breaking the protective surface tension layer so just spoofing the JBW spoofer back, not to hook you.
Peel's rods had a horizontal groove that took sanding out and feathering a hollow to remove the stress riser injury. I do one further ritual finish step I call 'flame-steam anodizing' to sapphire layer. I was once confused on which part of Commando was most over built, Z plates or connecting rods but now put my money on the ever lasting rods, as long as nothing else gives up first like cases and cranks. I come up with a different way to protect the rods in cases half dozen times now.

toppy · Oct 31, 2014

bluemax said:
Perhaps with a bit of straightening this one might do the job.
Most likely from a combat hand grenade engine, only joking but imagine the forces in play to do this.

These must be made of same stuff as Norton rods as I can't see any sign of a crack in it so it will just need a gentle polish :lol:

motoracer8 · Oct 31, 2014

Aluminum rods work fine until they break. Some seem to last a long time others don't.

Yes, steel rods are expensive but so are crank cases.

Nater_Potater · Oct 31, 2014

comnoz said:
I would reuse them since they are low mileage. I would sand the notches out starting with around 200 grit and working up to a polish. Sand and polish only lengthwise -never across the beam of the rod. Jim

Agreed. It's the stress riser that's more of a concern over the ultimate mass of the rod.

btw, you guys are missing the key to this picture; the dude in the background is only 3/4 of an inch tall!

ashman · Oct 31, 2014

btw, you guys are missing the key to this picture; the dude in the background is only 3/4 of an inch tall!

[/quote]

Good one.

Ashley

Would you reuse these connecting rods?

Similar threads