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Silver/chrome wishbones
Banana - 11/8/16 at 12:51 PM

Is there any difference or significance to the wishbones being chrome finished?

locost 7 kit car 2 litre pinto.

Is there anything odd about them?



thanks

prawnabie - 11/8/16 at 12:58 PM

I'm sure I have read on here it is harder to see fatigue when they have been chromed.

Sam_68 - 11/8/16 at 01:21 PM

The problem, I think, is not so much that cracking is more difficult to spot, but that the chroming process causes 'hydrogen embrittlement' of the steel, so they're much more likely to crack in the first place.

Banana - 11/8/16 at 01:40 PM

Interesting, if slightly concerning.

Any thoughts on the car in the link? (I am looking for a project)

Are the wishbones sitting at an odd angle? Or just my eyes playing tricks maybe.

loggyboy - 11/8/16 at 01:46 PM

They could just be painted or coated in a high polish silver finish.

David Jenkins - 11/8/16 at 04:24 PM

IIRC, chrome plating is very brittle and any flexing leads to stress fractures, which in turn propagate into the steel underneath. Apparently cadmium plating is OK as it doesn't lead to cracking in steel. Available in a brassy-gold and a silvery colour, although not as smooth or sparkly as chrome. I believe that cadmium plating is done in preparation for chrome plating, so it's reasonably available.

Sam_68 - 11/8/16 at 05:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
IIRC, chrome plating is very brittle and any flexing leads to stress fractures, which in turn propagate into the steel underneath.
.

Yes, better worded explanation than mine - thank you!

coozer - 11/8/16 at 06:16 PM

Isn't chrome plating banned now having been replaced with nickel plating?

Toys2 - 12/8/16 at 12:28 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Banana
Interesting, if slightly concerning.

Any thoughts on the car in the link? (I am looking for a project)

Are the wishbones sitting at an odd angle? Or just my eyes playing tricks maybe.


As always you need to check that it's correctly registered as a Locost....."Ford Sports" or similar for example is not good enough

Slimy38 - 12/8/16 at 07:22 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Banana
Are the wishbones sitting at an odd angle? Or just my eyes playing tricks maybe.


If it is your eyes, then I have the same eyes!! It's like someone has used an upright that's too big.

Banana - 12/8/16 at 10:16 AM

Yep he is registered as a Locost.
Chap has a rather lovingly kept photo account of the build.

In regards to the wishbone angle - i think it is a trick, as ive got some more photos and it looks more normal.

Any thoughts? I know its not mint, but a cheap project is appealing to me.





ReMan - 12/8/16 at 02:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by coozer
Isn't chrome plating banned now having been replaced with nickel plating?


No?
But it much more controlled (read expensive)