Carb cover update - faint hope

[oldstarfire]

I took a spare left carb cover to an investment foundry (lost wax method) and discussed repros.

Aluminum would shrink about 4mm across the longest dimension (+/-20 cm).

The original would have to be built up around the edge with body filler and the original cover then coated with coats of thick paint (or such) to increase the thickness.
That could then be used to make a mold from silicone rubber.
Wax copies would have to be cast in the mold.
The wax copies would be coated in ceramic, wax melted out, and aluminum poured.

Excluding my part, castings requiring polishing and machining are estimated to me at $75 to $100 CDN .

Based on a quantity of 20 parts, my current guess would be about $140cdn plus shipping - if it works......
Lots of opportunity for failure.

Any comments?

[coxy]

g day ED that's about what i came up with but things have been put on the back burner put me down for a right one if you get them done cheers.

[oldstarfire]

With the "flood" of comment, not much "faint hope".

[moonpup]

I think it all depends on the final price and how accurate the "repop" is to the original. The price you hinted at above is ok with me and I think most of the members that added their names to the "Committed" list would still be buyers.

You saw how fast everyone stepped up to the "con-rod" project. I have no reason to believe they wouldn't do the same with this one. 

[Bikenstein]

I'm lookin at it. Would like to know more about the finish that would require "polishing" and the particulars on the machining.

[Richard Clark BS parts]

If you can deliver these, finished and very nice, I would be interested in purchasing and stocking them.

Perhaps I do not understand completely. maybe the $140 price is finished, if so I think that is great!

I am sure if they can be produced as a finished product at anywhere near that price, I think you could sell lots of them.
As almost all 350's "found" need the right cover.


Richard Clark




Questions? or need Bridgestone parts? call:

Richard Clark
812-944-1643  8am-6pm EST Weekdays

[redimport]

Mornin Oldstarfire

Can you get a firm quote from them on even producing one to five samples to prove the process ? Then we as a group can decide whether we invest in a trial run.

Here is a US based company with some guidelines & information on investment casting.

http://www.consolicast.com/consolidated-casting-technical-notes.html

I will admit I was thinking more pressure casting (die casting) to make this part, as the surface finish from the tool as casted is higher and requires less post machining & polishing. However tooling investment is higher than investment casting. I will not be looking into this until I finish what I have started on the rod project.

later ... ray

[redimport]

Mornin All,

When you closely at a side cover. On the inside you can see the ejector pins that are used to eject the part when die cast. You can also see - at the parting line - area that screws to the clutch cover - the feed gate tabs & the over flow channels that take away the gasses in the material when die cast. These are trimmed off later but you can see the rough edges left. They have been ground off.

later

[Sno Jet]

This is going to be a big seller if someone can get it done properly.  It is amazing how many damaged one's are out there.  Just another piece of the puzzle.

[redimport]

Morning,

What I also meant to ask was can they send you pictures of other parts of this size that they have done with investment casting, showing us the surface finish & wall sections ?

Thanks .. ray

[stickman]

watched cafe racer on tv this morning about joker machine, I emailed them about making the cover and they said they only makes parts for there bikes.
stick

We have just been making parts for our project bikes so far. I don't think that is something we can work on at this time. Thanks

 Bryan Warren
Joker Machine
1931 Yeager Ave.
La Verne, CA 91750
(P) 909-596-9690
(F) 909-596-9693
www.jokermachine.com

[old smokey]

I've seen that episode so many times I'm sick of the fact I sold my '76 CB750 for $700 only 10 years ago in great original with 20,000 miles, other than aftermarket side pipes....
Maybe someday he'll decide there is a market for GTR carb covers.