[Healeys] 54-spoke wheel

[Tom]

The Mercedes that clipped Macklin's Healey at the 1955 Le Mans was made of
a magnesium alloy.  I remember my chemistry professor saying that magnesium
would burn under water.

- tom


On Tue, Jan 28, 2014 at 10:23 AM, Jonas Payne <jpaynepbr at cox.net> wrote:

> Morgan used an "electron" bell +4 housing/torque tube from the 20's through
> the late 60's.
>
> I have had several opportunities to repair the clutch throwout mechanisms
> in
> these cars, which often necessitates some drilling or cutting of the
> "electron".
>
> I couldn't tell you the chemical makeup for sure, but I do know that the
> metal is very hard, and that when you drill it, the shavings burst into
> flames, sort of like a 4th of july sparkler.  Cutting oil helps, but it is
> still an interesting experience.
>
> Not sure that such a small percentage of magnesium would impart such
> properties.
>
> Jonas Payne
> PBR Consulting Services, LLC
> 702.882.6711
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: healeys-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:
> healeys-bounces at autox.team.net]
> On Behalf Of Peter Svilans
> Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 6:32 AM
> To: healeys at autox.team.net
> Subject: [Healeys] 54-spoke wheel
>
> In the wheel listing it actually said "Magnesium Rim".  It was likely a
> magnesium/ aluminum alloy called Elektron, the aluminum component being
> only
> a small percentage (9% or so).  Remember calling special wheels on a car
> "mag wheels" ?  It oxidizes  very easily and hence is hard to weld. The
> rear
> axle castings on my 1934 Raleigh Safety Seven are magnesium and were quite
> badly pitted where the black paint had come off.
>
> I have a 1957 Triumph (TWN) scooter with what looked like a large cast
> aluminum legshield which had been repaired with a patch and rivets.  I
> thought this rather crude, and thought "Well, I'll just aluminum weld it up
> with the gas torch".  It exploded with a blinding green-blue flame, nearly
> dropped everything and burned the place up.  Further research into the
> factory specs showed the legshield to be a magnesium casting, not aluminum.
> On top of that, aluminum primers don't work on it (despite Sikkens'
> assurances), as the new finish developed severe cauliflowers under the
> paint
> three weeks in.  I'm now told you have to anodize the piece before
> painting.
>
> Best
> Peter
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