For various reasons, one of the off-season things I want to do to the rallycross car is pull the front uprights and inspect them for cracking, especially the spindles. At the machine shop, we'd tap crankshafts with a hammer and listen to them either ring or thunk. I'm not sure that will translate to a spindle.
Are there any good DIY methods of crack inspection? I'm aware that one can buy dye inspection kits but I was hoping to hear more ideas.
Not what I expected
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
A ring test should work on a spindle. You might have to strike it out on the end of the threads or something like that to ensure it actually rings, but it should work. Of course if it is a very very small crack, you might not get a result from that.
There are other methods, such as eddy current testing, but I think you want something DIY at home?
There was a tech article on dye tests that GRM did earlier this year https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/testing-cracks-home-diy-dye-penetrants/
Mr_Asa said:There was a tech article on dye tests that GRM did earlier this year https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/testing-cracks-home-diy-dye-penetrants/
That's what we used to use to check cranks and connecting rods on heavy presses
Hehehe. He said crack.
In reply to barefootskater (Shaun) :
Nor me, I was ready to post how I arrange 2 mirrors to make it possible.
Wasn't there a way to Magnaflux at home? Like a kit from Eastwood or something?
In reply to Appleseed :
This is what I will probably do, because cheap, and it will find cracks that dye misses. It looks simple enough: make solution of iron filings and liquid, apply a decent magnetic field. Looks like it's just a U shaped electromagnet, which is kinda trivial to make. Or I can call up Acme and mail-order a big horseshoe magnet.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
I have a hefty permanent magnet that was prt of a do it yurself crack test kit. It came with ultra fine iron dust, no liquid, and a squeeze bulb blow tool with a misting nozzle. I found a cracked king pin on my MGTD with it in my miss-spent youth.
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