Halfshaft Steel

[Charles P]

I’m sure that I’ve seen a note of what steel Austin originally used for halfshafts, but I can’t find it.

New ones are EN36B but does anyone know what the original ones were made from?

Many thanks

Charles

[bob46320]

The EN series started in WW2 and revised in 1955. So what was used before the EN series ?

[Bluebird7]

Why ????

[Reckless Rat]

Perhaps because it was very strong, whatever the alloy. Bert Munro used to go to scrap yards and salvage half shafts from lorries to make the pistons for his record breaking Indian motorcycle.

[Colin Reed]

BET MUNRO might have used old half shafts for some items on his bikes BUT PISTONS NO

[Steve Jones]

Why does Charles need to know? I know Charles quite well and whilst I don't know the answer would speculate that he's got some duff, old, half shafts (like many of us) and is looking to make something useful from them

Steve

[Ruairidh Dunford]

I made a super key ring from one of mine!

[bob46320]

Besides metal replacement, you could (If you had a very expensive friction welding machine) cut off the damaged end of said half shaft, weld on some new material from a donor piece of half shaft, re-machine taper, thread, woodruff key slot, bearing face and Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt - hey presto an A7 half shaft - and not worry about what the shaft was made of.
Bob

[Reckless Rat]

Perhaps it was conrods. It's a while since I read the book.

[Colin Bromley]

I don't know what they were made from, but it doesn't machine very nicely, it turns like a very hard, very high carbon content steel. That said, it does MIG weld beautifully, I used a damaged original one to fabricate the front damper mountings for my Morgan three-wheeler.