Drilling with caution.
Elswhere on the forum caution is advised regarding the continued use of non-standard (OE) components that have been drilled to save weight. In particular brake torque arms.
Typical Original Equipment torque arms, stamped "British Hub Co.", were made of carbon or mild steel. These were made from stock size metal 1" and and 1/8" by 1/8". This would take in excess of 4 metric tons to break. In reality, the bush housings on the ends of the front torque arms are the weak points. On the rear component the fixing holes will be the weak point.
A torque arm made from 6082 aluminium alloy, a fairly common material, at size 300 x 6 mm will take 7.38 metric tonnes to break. Once again, the fixing holes are likely to be the point(s) of failure
Provided you have sourced your aluminium materials correctly you can drill lightning holes, effectively weakening the cross sectional area, by quite a margin before you drop below the equivalent steel component.
All the aluminium plate used in triumph-Greeves engine plates that I make and sell come with a certificate of conformity, effectivly a mill cert. Off cuts are kept and batch numbered. Scrap is just that.
Typical Original Equipment torque arms, stamped "British Hub Co.", were made of carbon or mild steel. These were made from stock size metal 1" and and 1/8" by 1/8". This would take in excess of 4 metric tons to break. In reality, the bush housings on the ends of the front torque arms are the weak points. On the rear component the fixing holes will be the weak point.
A torque arm made from 6082 aluminium alloy, a fairly common material, at size 300 x 6 mm will take 7.38 metric tonnes to break. Once again, the fixing holes are likely to be the point(s) of failure
Provided you have sourced your aluminium materials correctly you can drill lightning holes, effectively weakening the cross sectional area, by quite a margin before you drop below the equivalent steel component.
All the aluminium plate used in triumph-Greeves engine plates that I make and sell come with a certificate of conformity, effectivly a mill cert. Off cuts are kept and batch numbered. Scrap is just that.
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