Stuart 10V conn rod

[Neil AParticipant @neila]

I have just started machining the parts for a Stuart 10V engine. The set is quite old and it still has the forged crankshaft and hot pressed brass for the connecting rod and the eccentric rod. While the iron castings and the crankshaft are fine, the hot pressed brass parts are somewhat bent or distorted.

Has anyone got any advice on straightening the brass parts? Not knowing the exactly composition of the brass, I am not sure how much I can bend them without causing cracking.

I would like to use the supplied parts, but if they do crack, it just means buying new parts or making from scratch. Any advice is welcome.

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

These parts are usually quite a ductile brass otherwise they could not be stamped. It would not hurt to anneal it first – heat to 350-400deg C (very dull red) and then just leave to cool in the air.

[Neil AParticipant @neila]

Thanks Jason, that will give me more confidence to attempt to straighten the parts. The conn rod is the worst, the small end is very obviously not at right angles to the rest of the rod, the bend is quite close to that end.

Perhaps it caught in the dies when it was still very hot. I will take your advice and anneal it first, give it the best chance of success.

Neil

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