Steering column and control rods

[dmdeaton]

Trying to figure out how to remove the rods. Don’t tell me all I need to do is bend these ears?

[dmdeaton]

[Rich Eagle]

If you anneal the ears they will bend easier with less chance of breaking.

[dmdeaton]

The gear box looks like one piece?

So bending them is the way it’s done?

If so,yes I will anneal

[CudaMan]

Since you have the later single piece gear case, yes, you have to bend the ears (after annealing them so that they don't break).

Folks with the earlier two-piece gear cases could grind off the rivets holding the two parts of the case together and slide the rods out without bending the ears.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1493740470

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/82 ... 1531404752

[dmdeaton]

K
Thanks guys

[Scott_Conger]

anneal, let it cool to room temp, bend a very little bit...repeat a lot of times

multiple annealings followed by thorough cooling during the process is mandatory, in my experience. It takes very little material movement for the metal to become very brittle again.

[dmdeaton]

Cut the rods off. Going to clean this stuff up. Sandblast the rust and then anneal

[dmdeaton]

I love bringing this stuff back to life

[Altair]

To anneal a non-ferris metal, copper, brass, bronze heat to cherry red and quench in cold water, non ferris is hardened by cooling over long periods of time, the longer the harder. Non ferris will work harden and may require to be re-annealed during the working process. Iron is the opposite process, except will also work harden, they call it metal fatigue.

[dmdeaton]

We take brass sheet and anneal it so we can beat it into a buttplate for flintlocks. Easy to work but like you said, starts to harden back up after you work it.

[Scott_Conger]

Good that you are acquainted with working brass. Just know that you're used to working with brass that is alloyed for what you're doing, and this has a very different grain structure than you're used to. It will kick your butt if you're not careful. Knowing brass gives you a leg up but be careful to not get cocky! You'll be fine if you go slow.

[Original Smith]

I assume you have a better pair of control rods to use?

[dmdeaton]

Yes, new set of rods and all the small parts. I will post more pics as I progress