[Fot] titanium rods

[Terry Stetler]

Current Formula 1 V8s are turning 20,000 rpm for qualifying, and 19,000rpm
during the race.

Back when they were "only" turning 15,000 to 16,000 Ferrari's block service
life was 1000km, at which point they were changed out.  The culprit?
Sonically induced microfracturing.

Isn't technology grand?

Terry Stetler
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: BillDentin at aol.com<mailto:BillDentin at aol.com>
  To: billb at bnj.com<mailto:billb at bnj.com> ;
tlizzard at msn.com<mailto:tlizzard at msn.com>
  Cc: 58tr3a at videotron.ca<mailto:58tr3a at videotron.ca> ;
henry at henryfrye.com<mailto:henry at henryfrye.com> ;
fot at autox.team.net<mailto:fot at autox.team.net>
  Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 10:23 AM
  Subject: Re: [Fot] titanium rods


  In a message dated 04/21/2007 1:38:10 AM Central Daylight Time,
billb at bnj.com<mailto:billb at bnj.com> writes:



    My MV Agusta Senna has titanium rods, piston pins and crank pin. Beautiful
parts. The motor revs to 13,500 RPM and makes 142 HP from 750 cc. I wouldn't
mind that kind of performance in my TR3, Peyote would be darned sprightly with
400+ horsepower, though I suspect the four radially displaced titanium valves
and the fuel injection contribute more to the performance than the rods. What
a motor though. I can pick it up by myself. The whole bike weighs 413
pounds--about the same as a TR3 motor. The valve springs and retainers are
absolutely gorgeous. Most of the bits inside look like jewelry.

    An interesting side note, an engineer told me that the titanium alloys
used in motorsports don't lend themselves to crack checking because most
cracks propagate beneath the surface and don't propagate slowly like steel
can. It's either good, or it's gone.



  l3,500 rpms...at what point does our block become the next weak link in the
chain?

  Bill Dentinger



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