Stainless Steel & Valve Gear

[John Bateson]

Does anybody have any views as to the usefulness of stainless steel parts for valve gear, in particular inside valve gear, where there are longish rods which are only 15' wide. Scaled down accurately these are only 1.5 mm deep but 3cm long.
Although I have done this in nickel silver, I am a little concerned over how it will wear in use.
And are there any problems soldering it - to nickel silver for example?

John

[Terry Bendall]

John

Some useful information on soldering stainless steel at http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=150

Some people of course make coupling rods out of mild steel on the basis that nothing looks more like a steel rod than one made of steel and they are stronger. Not sure about this for small bathc production which is probably what you are interested in.

Terry Bendall

[Russ Elliott]

Stainless is a pain to cut, file and drill/broach. I can't see you would have any wear issues on inside gear requiring a material harder than nickel, nor any strength reasons either (your inside gear isn't transmitting piston forces).

[Tim V]

Nor drive, like coupling rods do.