Steve Beswick wrote:
> To those who have recommended using a magnet to test valves:Stainless Steel
> is magnetic. How do you think magnetic knife bars work?
>
Umm. Sort of. Austenitic stainless steels are not magnetic in their
annealed form, but become weakly magnetic with working, but not as
strongly magnetic as ferritic stainlesses or other carbon steel.
The more an austenitic stainless is worked, the more magnetic it
becomes. So, it's true that a magnetic test won't identify a stainless
valve from a carbon steel valve.
As for the original question, I don't think a stainless valve is
necessarily a mandatory item for unleaded operation, and depending upon
the stainless alloy, might not actually be the best choice, as some
stainlesses are not as hard as better carbon steel valves, and the valve
face may deform around the valve seat over time. In any event, simply
assuming that "stainless" is better is not necessarily true. Any valve
with Stellite hard facing is probably just as suitable.
Cheers.
--
Michael Porter
Roswell, NM
Never let anyone drive you crazy when you know it's within walking distance....
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