Topic: Are these aluminum or Ti ?

[hrcscott]

hi there...
these are out of a donor motor and was wondering if the retainers would be worth using in my 550 racebike?
Not sure if they are aluminum or Ti? anyway to tell? they're not magnetic..would have to have them machined down to fit my Dynoman springs so I don't know if it's worth the trouble?..the outer spring ledge is about 1mm wider than the stock retainers..

Each one is 3g lighter than stock but I had read recently on a thread here ( can't find it now) that old school aluminum retainers aren't reliable?

Also, anyone recoginize the springs ? some sort of progressive wound ones..shorter than the Dynoman springs..

thanks in advance for the help,
Scott

[Tintop]

There's a post on the VRRA forum Scott for aluminum NOS retainers (CB750).  Enough that you could probably put in a new set for each event.

[754]

They dont look like aluminum.

[BLUE71TURBO]

 The easiest way to tell the difference between aluminum and titanium is with a grinder. Aluminum will not spark, titanium will spark like hell's bells !      You can use a file on the retainer, as aluminum is softer and titanium is way harder.  Aluminum retainers are real light, Titanium retainers are heavier.   

[Retro Rocket]

They dont look like aluminum.

Thats what i was thinking, you can usually tell alloy just by looking at them.  For what its worth, i have some alloy retainers right next to me and they are lighter colored than the ones pictured, just what i would expect alloy to look like....

[trueblue]

I agree they don't look like aluminium, I would try a file on them, if it files like butter then it is not titanium

[Jim F]

They look like ti
If you grind a small area it will throw off a white spark
If titanium

[MRieck]

Aluminum is generally anodized

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Send me those,i'll send some we KNOW are aluminum!!!  Two sets to one!!! They don't look alum. Bill

[bwaller]

Hey Scott they look plastic to me, toss em. I have some really trick lead retainers here I'll send you. Yea that'll help........................................me! 

[Jim F]

you need to keep those................

[bwaller]

Sorry Jim my sarcasm will not go unnoticed on Scott.

We race together in the same class, he won't be tossing them... especially because I say so!

[hrcscott]

To all those who replied ( except Mr.Waller ...thanks for your input...extremely helpful as usual !!

you need to keep those................

hey Jim...I'm thinking you're serious?..are they worth having turned down to run do you think? they are matched size wise to those springs in the pics (which I have no idea what they are) so I didn't know if I should keep them as a set for future use or turn them down and use them now?

We race together in the same class, he won't be tossing them... especially because I say so!

And because you showed up in my class I now have to spend Mega $$$ to try to keep up with the Blue Rocket..I was doing just fine till you ruined the party  And yes your word is still Gospel to me and my build 

[Jim F]

It just depends on what they fit and what your going to have to do to make
them work with your application................Ti is tough to work sometimes if your not familiar with
machining the stuff
I made some Ti hangers for my turbo build and went threw a couple of very expensive end mills

good luck

[hrcscott]

hey Jim..
would have to turn off about 1 mil from the edge that sits in the outer spring to fit the Dynoman springs..and probably 1 mil off the top edge to bring it to the stock size..
Scott

[Retro Rocket]

Aluminum is generally anodized

Yes i agree, most of the alloy ones i have seen are anodized but i have a set on a head {that troublesome one i talked to you about} and they are definitely not anodized...

[scottly]

they are matched size wise to those springs in the pics (which I have no idea what they are) so I didn't know if I should keep them as a set for future use or turn them down and use them now?

Test the pressure on the unknown springs and see how they compare to the others. If you don't have a proper spring tester, put a scale on the table of a drill press, and measure how many pounds it takes for each spring to compress a certain distance.