Cylinder head fin repair/Recommend

[swall]

Another thought on cast iron fin repair--if you are going to braze or use Ni-Rod, the replacement piece need not be cast iron. Just use a piece of steel sheet. Of course, some of Cotton's tricks will be necessary to try to get a good texture match of the surface finish. I am thinking (more like musing) that some sort of flame spray coating on the finished product might be used to produce a casting like finish.

[stan]

Some interesting information on fin repair. I just did several fin replacenents on my 36 indian 4 heads and cylinders. I found some good fins on a air compressor head. My repair turned out good. There is a stick welding rod where only a slight preheat is necessary. I don't have the name in front of me, but it worked for me. It is rather expensive. After the weld I put the part in a bucket of sand to cool slowly. The problem is where I have used the grinder is real smooth and not like the original casting. When it is electroless nickel plated the repaired area will look different. I didn't understand the broken grinding stone on a stick approach to make it look like original. How is that actually done. thanks, Stan

[T. Cotten]

Stan!

The "Outlaw's Friend" is used like a hammer to scar the surface. After using one, you will soon learn to spot repetitive impressions upon number bosses that have been felonized. It will not embed abrasive nearly as much as the old beat-on-sandpaper trick, and gives a wider variety of irregularities.

You will not be able to add much 'character' between fins, of course, but it blends the edges and open areas nicely.

Still, the steel shot blast is the last word for texturizing, especially for aluminum.
(Attached is an example of where 'character' has been sanded off and the surface re-textured.) Blasting is the only effective way to get between fins, that I have found so far. Of course, there are much more coarse and aggressive media available.

....Cotten

[Paps]

Thanks again for the rod recommendations swall.

Cotten...that tool looks to nice to use. My wife would think it was colonial furniture. Nice work on the carb bowl !! Paps

[Coolbreeze]

Cotten,

I'll give you a call to see if you still have fin material.

A wise person told me at Davenport a few years ago that, "All old motorcycles should be destroyed -- one mile at a time." Sound familiar? Well, I took your advice and have ridden and hauled my Indian 841 to veteran's events, a Moto Guzzi rally, and antique bike shows. Every time the bike is moved, there is potential for new dings. Even so, this has to be a better use of the bike than letting it languish in museums like it did before I got it.

George

[David R.]

How about aluminum?

I have a Triumph head with two broken fins. One is missing entirely and the other is fractured, but still clinging. What is the procedure for dealing with these repairs?