Aluminium Alloy Duplex
Turbo Mini Forums

Anyone had any long term experience with aluminium alloy cam sprockets on a road engine?

How quick do they wear out?

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Which one you looking at MED/Piper or Swifty?
I have the Swifty one fitted and seems great

I seriously doubt it!

I have the MED one in the Mig and am thinking about fitting one in the new 998Ti.

To their credit, MED suggested that theirs is really only suitable for race engines.

It's just that it easier to fit a cam sensor target if the sprocket is aluminium.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

You could use a magnet in a steel sprocket. Probably not as easy as a bolt in an aluminium one but still not too bad.

Jean

http://www.jbperf.com/

I have no experience of alloy in chain sprockets but, there are certain grades of aluminium alloy that are made to work harden very quickly. Those grades will stand a lot of abuse from steel (especially if lubricated).

I can't remember the grade number/code but a common useage as rail tracks on 3.5", 5", 7.25" miniature railways. Minimal wear from cast iron or steel wheels on the rolling stock even on tight curves. And that is un-lubricated.

I would suggest you get the grade number and Google its properties.

(EDIT - typo)

Edited by Rod S on 26th Sep, 2011.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

The Swiftune one is 7075 which is a very high grade suitable for gears and sprockets etc.

MED website is down at the moment.

EDIT: MED one is also 7075.

Ummmm........

Prefer the look of the clamping system of the Swifty one. Either will take the stainless screws.

Edited by Paul S on 26th Sep, 2011.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Well if these were wearing badly with high use, then someone on here would have heard.

Guess I'll just have to try it :)

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Id say if they do a season of Miglia without wearing then they can do 10 years on the road without wearing.
Look at its properties

Tensile and Yield strength
7075....................83ksi.......73ksi
4130 Chromoly.....80ksi.......56ksi

Edited by paul wiginton on 27th Sep, 2011.

I seriously doubt it!

I'd hope it would be hard anodised, and if its not, get it done! That stuff generates sparks when you machine it!!

If the outer section is any sort of bright colour, its normal anodise, If its a dull grey or black, it might be hard anodise.

With respect Colin, would not the layer of aluminium oxide rip the chain to pieces in no time :)

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Looking at the datasheet for 7075, in it's normal heat treated form, Brinell hardness is ~150.
Thats equal, if not slightly better, than the mild steel of the standard sprockets (no pun intended).
So I don't think wear will be an issue at all.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

On 27th Sep, 2011 Sprocket said:

On 27th Sep, 2011 Paul S said:
With respect Colin, would not the layer of aluminium oxide rip the chain to pieces in no time :)

I don't understand

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Sand is an abrasive substance, but they make microchips from it