what grade of stainless?

I plan to make a motorcycle wheel spindle in stainless, is there a particular grade i should use or is 303 o.k?

The experts will have an opinion on which grade, but I would not use stainless. I might use the bit of 4140 that's on my bench at the moment, but it might really need heat treatment.

Ian S C

303 is not really suitable. If it's got to be stainless 304 would be better.

Personally I'd use EN16T, EN19, EN21 or EN24T for that job.

I have made spindles for people but always in EN16T. The only time to stainless was used was on a "show" Triton and I fitted 1/4" long slugs of 304 in the ends turned and screwcut as one piece. If you must use stainless remember to lubricate on assembly to stop the galling and ruin all your work.

I always use EN16T, but have used EN19 as well same as JS recommends, however I have used Titanium for some race bikes however in some series its illegal to use Ti for spindles.

I know of one supplier who makes and sells wheel spindles for classic race bikes, made from 7075 T6 Ali, my view is this is madness, what do others think.

Shaun

Edited By Involute Curve on 18/11/2015 09:55:12

I would have thought a grade of ferritic stainless would be the best option for this sort of thing.

John

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Yes John but if you're going to use a "rustable" St St you might as well go back to EN16T instead.

  "I know of one supplier who makes and sells wheel spindles for classic race bikes, made from 7075 T6 Ali, my view is this is madness, what do others think."

  That one sounds like a piece of Colin Chapman underengineering.

Regards Ian.

Edited By Circlip on 18/11/2015 11:15:37

Edited By Circlip on 18/11/2015 11:17:02

I've seen it used in situations where corrosion would be a serious problem but don't have any precise details about what it actually was other than it was slightly magnetic as they all are.

This is what the nickel institute has to say about it

John

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I made a front axle for a Yamaha FZ750 out of EN58J which is the equivalent of 304 many moons ago and though it was ok in use when I took it out it had bent like a banana , after getting a bit more knowledge of materials I next used EN57T martensitic stainless , its 55 tons tensile but does rust very slightly but is more than strong enough , my current bike a Kawasaki ZX6R has all titanium axles made by myself out of 6242 alloy which is light and strong and corrosion free , the rear axle has bent slightly by about 0.2mm but its no bother as it springs straight when fitted to the bike , they are now 10 yrs old and still going strong so certainly good enough for a road bike.

Edited By geoffrey marriott on 21/12/2015 17:44:12