Reccomendations for a small machine shop?

[Expat]

I am going to re-build my RZ350 this winter and am thinking of having all the axles, pins etc made in stainless steel so I don't ever need to worry about rust, dulling etc. Anyone reccomend a machine shop or machinist with a home shop that can make one off parts for reasonable money? I would also entertain renting use of a manual machine as I am a qualified machinist my self! Looking close to the Worcester area if possible and can supply my own material.

[intergalactic]

You want to be really careful with stainless. The alloys that are the most rust resistant are the easiest to strip and gall threads one. And unless passivated after machining, even the soft austenitic alloys will rust from machine tool contamination. And if the parts are structural, then the yield (versus tensile) strength is a concern. A decent plater can do a nice zinc, much better than what you have on a new bike, and it will be more resistant to corrosion than stainless. Plus you can machine a decent alloy and have good machining qualities and good material properties, plus a decent finish that way.

[Pigman]

and its gonna cost a good amount 1 off parts are not cheap at all....

[Expat]

You want to be really careful with stainless. The alloys that are the most rust resistant are the easiest to strip and gall threads one. And unless passivated after machining, even the soft austenitic alloys will rust from machine tool contamination. And if the parts are structural, then the yield (versus tensile) strength is a concern. A decent plater can do a nice zinc, much better than what you have on a new bike, and it will be more resistant to corrosion than stainless. Plus you can machine a decent alloy and have good machining qualities and good material properties, plus a decent finish that way.

Been using it for 20 years and never had a gauled thread!
Zinc dulls, event the good stuff and if you polish it, it comes off, even the good stuff,
I have done industrial hard chrome in the past but stainless is the way to go, I use 316 grade and for axles, spacers, pins etc. The Japs used to way over engineer them, look at a modern Ducati or SS axle with a big hole through it vs the 5/8" solid rod of the 70's and 80's! So strength is not an issue.
Thanks for the thought though!

[Expat]

Here are some examples of some parts I made for my Z1000, been on the bike a few years now and still look like the day I made them!

[klepsta]

Why not make some of the parts out of titanium? If you are going to spend the coin, might as well save some weight?

I have a few friends I will ask around. Most of them are more mill work, but I can see if they will take the lathe work.

[Garandman]

If you have designed plastic parts, I know someone with a rapid prototyping machine....

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.886 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Why not make some of the parts out of titanium? If you are going to spend the coin, might as well save some weight?

I have a few friends I will ask around. Most of them are more mill work, but I can see if they will take the lathe work.

Way more expensive raw materials and also different tooling.

[Expat]

Why not make some of the parts out of titanium? If you are going to spend the coin, might as well save some weight?

I have a few friends I will ask around. Most of them are more mill work, but I can see if they will take the lathe work.

I can get stainless for free (more or less) titanium is big bucks, plus it's a bitch to machine, I have seen the cuttings set on fire while machining!

[Tricky Mike]

Do you have drawings? Want to PM me some specifics?

[Expat]

Back in England, you find a guy who works at a machine shop, give him the material and a tenner (about $15) then return a couple of days later for your parts!

[Expat]

Do you have drawings? Want to PM me some specifics?

PM sent!

[Tricky Mike]

Back in England, you find a guy who works at a machine shop, give him the material and a tenner (about $15) then return a couple of days later for your parts!

Yeah, but that flight is gonna cost you at least 500 quid

[Rambunctous]

Back in England, you find a guy who works at a machine shop, give him the material and a tenner (about $15) then return a couple of days later for your parts!

When I worked at Heald Machine Cinncinnati Milicron I knew a guy that spent his days making a lure that he could buy for $1.49...It was a great company to work for.

How about a pic of the RZ350?

[Rambunctous]

http://www.motocarrera.com/index.html

[Expat]

When I worked at Heald Machine Cinncinnati Milicron I knew a guy that spent his days making a lure that he could buy for $1.49...It was a great company to work for.

How about a pic of the RZ350?

LOL, see, those were the days! I am seriously considering setting up a little job shop, I do a lot of business in Texas and down there, they are crying out for machinists, unfortunately, the type of parts I enjoy producing don't pay enough!!
This is the only pic of my RZ, I also have another parts bike less the motor and tank. I will wash it down and take a few better pics before I rip it apart!

[Rambunctous]

That bike would be awesome just cleaned up. Keep it pure stock. Worth more that way anyway.

[Expat]

I has the full Toomey kit on it so is not 100% original.
I had a new one in 84 back in England so I want to keep this one but ride it occasionally. I will retain the stock appearance but not 100% stock parts, from experience, if you build them to a good spec, they last a long time!
It is going to get a full engine rebuild, new seals, bearings etc as well as the full cosmetic treatment!

[Rambunctous]

[Kurlon]

Now that is a sexy machine! Throw a TSS 500 in there and have a ball beating up middle weight machines!

[OC_R6]

i know its an older thread but i do computer work for a small machine shop that could probably help you out... there about an hour and a half drive from you if you go the speed limit... send me pm for details
-OC

[Expat]

PM sent!