Hello,
And sorry for resuscitating an old thread.
As you can see this is my very first post here, I just bumped into this thanks to google so I decided to join and ask…
I just got a O.S.FT-240 Gemini that I'm thinking in converting it to petrol and it has the infamous aluminium (bronze coloured) old conrods.
I read about them failing but I'm not sure how serious the issue is. I do have a small milling machine and some (very little) machining experience so I wonder if I should get some 7075 Al and try to machine a pair or just run the original ones??? I'm afraid that if they fail the damage could involve other parts that are also extinct.
I saw a video from a guy in Switzerland (very professional looking job) also the pics here from Dean that looks like he took a slightly different approach to it so is nice when you see things made in different ways, at least makes me feel more encouraged to give it a try.
I'd appreciate any input from anyone with experience on either these engines or machining these. I don't know how precise my mill is (just blame it to the machine) coupled to my limited experience. The biggest brake I find is that I might be missing some very precise measuring tools, I do have the basic stuff (calipers, indicator, regular 0.01 micrometer, and that's about it)
Thanks,
Fernando