10-08-2014, 11:42 PM
(10-08-2014, 06:09 PM)stevec Wrote: I haven't posted much about actually doing things in the shop lately but today I launched into a little project to restore a part for one of my old Allis-Chalmers tractors (old being older than me). I had this distributor mounting device that looked like this.
Someone on the Allis-Chalmers forum suggested I insert a copper threaded piece and have it aluminum welded.
Soe I set about making the copper "plug".
After turning down the smallest piece of copper I had in stock I started to machine a hex head for the plug.
I only then thought of taking some pics.
I then put the piece back in the lathe and turned the shank to 3/8" D.
I then started to single point the 3/8-16 thread and found that copper behaves worse being threaded than turned,
probably due to my impatience to grind a proper cutting tool ( I had to rework the turning tool to get a nice finish to the 3/8" D
shank). So, I decided to try the 3/8-16 threading die and with much lubrication and effort I got it to follow my ugly single point efforts.
Here's what I took to my "Vulcan" that welds aluminum".
Nicely done Steve.
I keep several different sizes of graphite rod for those kind of jobs. Once had to rebuild a broken off clutch cable boss on my brother's Hodaka Super Rat. Engine covers / case halves are like hens teeth.
Willie