Made Some Titanium 440 Crankshaft Damper Bolts & Washers Today

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PROSTOCKTOM

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The heat has been pretty oppressive the last two weeks in Indiana, so I figured it was time to get this project done and spend some time in the AC.

I took a couple 7/8" diameter 12-point titanium aircraft bolts I bought off eBay years ago and made them into crankshaft damper bolts.

Titanium is not like a hardened steel bolt in that you can remachine it and it doesn't change any of the mechanical properties.

Drilled a 5/16" hole up the middle to save some weight and then went back in with a ball nose end mill to finish out the bottom of the hole, so no sharp edges inside.

These will go along with the 7075-T7 aluminum and 6AL4V titanium washers I made to go with them.

Fun project for the evening and I should have washed the coolant off of them before I shot the photos. The surfaces are a lot nicer than the photos show.

Tom

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Attachment is working now, nicely made.

That’ll work for 383?
 
I might be making some titanium washers to sell in the future, but the bolts won't be offered because I only had three of them to start with.

I'll let you know if I make a run of washers.

Tom
 
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Nice!!!!! I sent a link to someone who would have been interested in one before I realized.
 
The heat has been pretty oppressive the last two weeks in Indiana, so I figured it was time to get this project done and spend some time in the AC.

I took a couple 7/8" diameter 12-point titanium aircraft bolts I bought off eBay years ago and made them into crankshaft damper bolts.

Titanium is not like a hardened steel bolt in that you can remachine it and it doesn't change any of the mechanical properties.

Drilled a 5/16" hole up the middle to save some weight and then went back in with a ball nose end mill to finish out the bottom of the hole, so no sharp edges inside.

These will go along with the 7075-T7 aluminum and 6AL4V titanium washers I made to go with them.

Fun project for the evening and I should have washed the coolant off of them before I shot the photos. The surfaces are a lot nicer than the photos show.

Tom

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Pretty effin nice. I guess my lazy *** needs to start looking for Ti bolts on flea bag and such.

Did you single point cut your threads??
 
Pretty effin nice. I guess my lazy *** needs to start looking for Ti bolts on flea bag and such.

Did you single point cut your threads??

I probably bought those bolts 15-years ago when eBay was still a great site and there were lots of sellers. You don't see the treasures that were once there anymore.

Yes, they were single point cut. I wasn't worried about thread rolling them for two bolts.

Tom

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ATI steel the company that I was a Millwright with for 33 years was involved in a joint venture with a Russian company dealing with titanium. We would get railroad cars in of titanium golf club heads. You could hand me a 10 pound chunk of it and with my machining capabilities I could make one heck on a nice door stop with it.

ATI ends joint venture in Russia
 
The heat has been pretty oppressive the last two weeks in Indiana, so I figured it was time to get this project done and spend some time in the AC.

I took a couple 7/8" diameter 12-point titanium aircraft bolts I bought off eBay years ago and made them into crankshaft damper bolts.

Titanium is not like a hardened steel bolt in that you can remachine it and it doesn't change any of the mechanical properties.

Drilled a 5/16" hole up the middle to save some weight and then went back in with a ball nose end mill to finish out the bottom of the hole, so no sharp edges inside.

These will go along with the 7075-T7 aluminum and 6AL4V titanium washers I made to go with them.

Fun project for the evening and I should have washed the coolant off of them before I shot the photos. The surfaces are a lot nicer than the photos show.

Tom

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View attachment 1716265284

View attachment 1716265285

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interesting , how does titanium machine ?
 
interesting , how does titanium machine ?

It machines just fine so long as you have quality carbide inserts, coolant flow, and a constant spindle speed lathe. Titanium holds heat like crazy so you can't machine it at ferrous alloy speeds and feeds or you'll burn up the inserts. However if done correctly it is no issue to deal with and makes beautiful shinny finishes that stay like that forever. I've been making parts with it for 25- years and really enjoy using it.

Tom
 
I can’t imagine a world where I’d need something that cool for any of my vehicles yet I find myself wanting one. Excellent job
 
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