Author Topic: Welding Magnesium Campagnolo Wheels (Read 12495 times)

simon#42 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 04, 2012, 11:47:02 PM »

yes they are the difficult ones to find . i have a few sets of 17 inch astralites but unfortunately they are no good to you .
no one seems to make an affordable 18 inch race wheel at the moment

Darvill Racing · « **Reply #26 on:** February 05, 2012, 01:51:16 AM »

Tell me about it Simon,
I had a new set of Campags made last year, they cost £££ and ok they are spot on but cost really doesn't justify the product.
Which is why I started this thread....

I am interested to hear from anyone who has some astralites in 18" guise....
Rob (Voxhonda) has help me locate a rare SMAC that we needed to restore an original SOHC Works Honda Endurance bike but for racing we need equipment that can get damaged (cos it will at some point) not historical rare items that once lost we it be hard to replace.
Its one of the reasons that we are moving to Kawasaki power, much as I hate to have to but the RSC parts are simply not available and even CB900 parts are getting hard to find.

Rant over.... Too much coffee this morning ;o)

*Sighs and places blackberry on the table and waits for the smoke coming off the keybord to disapate*

Jim F · « **Reply #27 on:** February 05, 2012, 08:27:52 AM »

I have welded Magnesium before but only for my parts and just to see what problems I would have.
I tried both TIG and Laser welding
heat cracking is the biggest problem and I used some material called vermiculite. I use it when I hard face compressor
stage turbine blades and it holds in the heat really well

I have had people call me wanting to repair the mag wheels and there is just too much at risk
I am pretty good at what I do but the risk is just too much
I have a set of EPM magnesium wheels and I am thinking of going back the stock GS wheels

Good luck

Jim

754 · « **Reply #28 on:** February 05, 2012, 09:48:19 AM »

My 18 inch Astralites, are 2.5 inch front and 3.5 rear. I was going to keep them , got a couple dibs on them if I did sell (the dibs maynot be valid today).

Anyone ever widen Astralites with a spacer??.looks quite easy..

turboguzzi · « **Reply #29 on:** February 05, 2012, 12:34:48 PM »

if money is no problem....

http://www.dymag.com/?q=products&quicktabs_view__Products__block_1=1#quicktabs-view__Products__block_1

http://www.marvic.it/prod_vintage_eng.php

http://www.magni.it/epm_6_razze.htm

Darvill Racing · « **Reply #30 on:** February 05, 2012, 02:12:37 PM »

Turboguzzi
I bought a set of the Marvic Campags last year, they look totally authentic even down to the aged look on the finish.

I have attached a pic of these with the quick release hubs, this was taken last year at the Bol d'Or Classic.

They are lovely and do the job but they are very expensive...!

Regards,
A

turboguzzi · « **Reply #31 on:** February 05, 2012, 11:24:54 PM »

yummie bike!

I think that EPM's are somewhat cheaper,

Interested in the source for your half fairing.

Cheers

TG

Darvill Racing · « **Reply #32 on:** February 06, 2012, 12:01:57 AM »

TG,
Thanks, she is lovely, a prototype Spondon frame running a works Honda RSC engine...
Shame parts are an issue as it just costs too much to run her

(

Fairing wise, this is a Kool Kwacka fairing, I have the mold ;o)

Regards,
A

Danno · « **Reply #33 on:** February 06, 2012, 12:15:24 AM »

lucky is correct in my experience as a master welder magnesium can be soldered not really welded for the reasons lucky mentioned a solder job on a competition rim even if not used for competition would not hold it is better suited to outboard motor parts and props if it were me I would not risk it even for a show piece

mec · « **Reply #34 on:** February 06, 2012, 01:44:25 AM »

many years ago i welded (Tig, gastolin eutectic magnesium rods) magnesium wheels and a magnesium clutch cover from a Yam 600TT.
the welds of the wheels seemed to work well, but the welds of the clutch cover cracked during cool down.
all in all, i woudnt do it once again, its not worth the risk.

mec

westfieldandy · « **Reply #35 on:** July 02, 2012, 10:30:04 AM »

you need special mag weld rods, i know someone who can do this, but they should be xrayed after.

andy

Jim F · « **Reply #36 on:** July 02, 2012, 10:57:29 AM »

I have welded magnesium before but only for me and my wheels
It's just too tricky and I would not do this for
Anyone else
I have the means for pre heating and letting it cool very slowly (I use some stuff called Vermiculite)
When I weld turbine blades I have to use this to prevent cracking around the welded area

and I have used this to do sample welding on Magnesium and have had good luck not cracking but
its just too risky other wise

buy some good Aluminum wheels
thats from someone who has magnesium wheels on one of his bikes that I am planing on riding...................Geezzzz

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #37 on:** July 02, 2012, 02:05:58 PM »

I think Alex has the picture and after all, he did say it was for static display only.
So here is a little story about my welder mate.
Peter Williams who I've known since I was a teenager (some several hundred years ago)

became a self taught welder in the 60s.
He made frames and tanks in alloy and built up a reputation that lead to him building the alloy tanks for the Maxton Yamahas that could do the TT without refueling. Following that, he did a production run of 25 tanks for a Canadian company but found the repatition boring.
He vowed never to make anything the same without a break in between with something different.
He had a six month waiting list for jobs, so was never short of work.
When he first took up welding, he was fortunate in that we had a rod manufacturer who also had a welding school in our town.
At the weekends, Peter was a Drag racer/Sprinter and very accomplished at his sport. He campaigned a twin engined Nitro burning Triumph for several years before turning his thoughts to a tripple engined one.
Not content with the massive power that these motors turned out, he wanted it as light as possible.
He deceided that he would make the fuel and oil tanks in Magnesium. Through his exploits in the bussines, he built up a good working relationship with this company and also with Siflux, a company that made welding fluxes.
The place in the town had by then closed down so he turned to Siflux for the correct sort of flux that would be needed to weld the Magnesium tanks.
I have not mentioned it yet but this is where the story gets interesting.
Siflux, yes Mr Williams, sure we can supply you with rods for welding Magnesium, how many would you like ?
Peter, who said anything about rods ? I just want the flux.
Siflux, well how are you going to weld them with out rods?
Peter, The same as I do all my alloy welding, with Oxegen and Asethalene.
Siflux, Peter, that hasn't been done since WW11, you need an arc set.
Peter, I havn't got an arc set, just send me some flux please.

They did and he made them

Sam.

Jim F · « **Reply #38 on:** July 02, 2012, 03:41:33 PM »

Sorry about posting the same subject twice
But As usual I am just not thinking

Darvill Racing · « **Reply #39 on:** July 03, 2012, 11:28:48 AM »

So Sam,
Is this possible?
Would you do it?

Regards,
Alex

lucky · « **Reply #40 on:** July 03, 2012, 02:08:53 PM »

Quote from: SamCR750A on February 03, 2012, 04:59:17 PM

OK Alex, I know a guy in Warrington that has welded magnesum but I'n not sure if his skills strech to cast magnesium. I'll give him a ring in the morning but I have a sneaky feeling it will be a NO.

Sam. $:-\$

The problem is not welding them. The problem is that after they are welded they shrink and then crack.
Forget about welding them.

Just the filler wire can be problematic as the cost is VERY high and often you have to buy one pound.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #41 on:** July 04, 2012, 04:32:05 AM »

Alex, I wouldnt go to the trouble if it is only a static display bike.
If the cracks are visible, just fill them and paint over them.

Sam.

Darvill Racing · « **Reply #42 on:** July 04, 2012, 10:07:30 PM »

.thanks everyone.

Think I will go for a repaint and run a decal on the wheel rim that's says demo (or something).

Regards,
A

lucky · « **Reply #43 on:** July 05, 2012, 05:07:07 PM »

Quote from: mec on February 06, 2012, 01:44:25 AM

many years ago i welded (Tig, gastolin eutectic magnesium rods) magnesium wheels and a magnesium clutch cover from a Yam 600TT.
the welds of the wheels seemed to work well, but the welds of the clutch cover cracked during cool down.
all in all, i woudnt do it once again, its not worth the risk.

mec

Engine cases can expand .004-.019 thousandths. LUCKY

spiritof67 · « **Reply #44 on:** July 06, 2012, 05:08:22 PM »

I will only add that when I planned on reusing my Kimtabs, whish are the FIRST commercially available magnesium wheels, I had all of them crack tested by an aerospace firm in Connecticut's "Aerospace Alley". Short of that, I never woild have used them at all...

Spirit

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Author Topic: Welding Magnesium Campagnolo Wheels (Read 12495 times)