4130 steel push rods

[mbskeam]

looking to make these out of 4130 7/16 dia. X .065 wall chromeolly tube
cost is 9.00$ per foot.
going to use the ends from my collony push rods, these pop out and are hardened.
but I need to buy a min of 20', I can get six sets out of this.
so here's the deal, looking for a few guys to go in on this, will sell the material at cost, can cut and use your ends from your push rods.
cost would be 9.00x4=36.00$ plus 4.95 shipping, if you pop the ends you can send them in a envelope....
yea it will be my labor, but that will be the price I pay....
just getting tired of the ends of the aluminum tubes compressing, as the steel ends drive into them....

[wahoo]

You can buy them already done for 40 bucks.... I bought these for my 48, work great
http://vulcanworks.net/Panhead--Shovelh ... -c-14.html
Of course you can make them yourself if you want.
George

[james]

Mike count me in.
My e-mail is jimbo1252@hotmail.com
Need address to send the push rod ends.
Will you be making the front rod longer like the colony rods?
I also need a manifold pressure tester. 1952 Pan
E-mail me what you need in the way of payment.

Thanks, Jim

[mbskeam]

oh yeah, these would be for 48-52, solid lifters, the one end is different at the lifter.....
S&S makes them also but they are 76.00$ just to many $$'$. as you can see others sell them for 1/2 the price, they kinda are getting a strangle hold of some of the old parts, and there prices are a bit high for my liking....

[wahoo]

I replaced my worn out tappets with Jims, I had to buy the cups also as my large end ones obviously would not work.
Yea, Competition cams makes a set for 75 bucks or so also.

[mbskeam]

okay, got the material to do them, here are some pics.....

DSC_0053.jpg

cut the tube a bit over size and then face off one end

DSC_0056.jpg

facing off the other end to the correct length

DSC_0059.jpg

pushrod end from the colony alum type

DSC_0060.jpg

measuring them as they very about .002, this lets me pick the reamer I need to get a .002 press fit

DSC_0055.jpg

reaming

DSC_0057.jpg

done, cut to size and reamed for .002 press fit of salvaged ends

DSC_0058.jpg

tube and end, getting ready to get pushed in

DSC_0061.jpg

I used a copper hammer to knock the ends in, and now have a set of 4130 7/16X.065 wall pushrods, way cheaper than S&S

DSC_0062.jpg

cut the tubes to these sizes

[FlatHeadSix]

beautiful work Mike!

Are you still looking for another customer to offset the material cost? I'll pull the set of aluminum shaft rods out of my '49 and send them to ya if you are. One of them is clattering right now anyway so I might as well pull 'em.

Can the ends of an OEM set of "oil-cans" be salvaged? I have several sets of those on the shelf also.

and I could also use another engine stand, do you have one of those ready to ship?

mike

[mbskeam]

Can the ends of an OEM set of "oil-cans" be salvaged? I have several sets of those on the shelf also

ya know I have never even held one ....LOL

if I can get one, I and take it apart and see whats up....


I am done with my set and am going to do 1 more, but I want to get a few miles on mine so that I dont make a big problem for people.....

I do have stands...

mbskeam

[james]

Mike,
I just installed your home made steel push rods, nice job.
How are you setting then, 3 finger snug or spinning loose?

Jim

[Panshovevo]

Thanks for the link to this thread, Mike.
Is that a Hardinge lathe? I'm jealous.
If you need any more of the 4130, Aircraft Spruce and Specialty sells it by the foot. They have a West coast and an East coast outlet. I'm not sure of the current price, but the 2008 catalog lists it at considerably less than you paid.
Regards,
John

[speedking1949]

Mike:

Count me in! I can't wait to get rid of my aluminum pushrods.

Richard M.

[Sir_Rat]

Put me down for two sets of those pushrods....oh wait...chit...sorry.... Flatheads don't have pushrod problems.
Ya gotta love simplicity!!!

Aloha....Mike

[108]

I dont understand. I've had aluminum push rods in my '48FL for over 20K miles, a lot if it at high speed, with no problem. They're set to zero lash, and its wisper quiet when hot-even standing right beside it. Maybe your cams are hard on them ? Mine is an old Sifton 412