Bodge of the day....

[iansoady]

... or creative solution.

I have a couple of fins broken on the cast iron head of my 1952 Norton ES2. My brother kindly supplied a couple he'd chopped off a scrap barrel he had from his AJS. I was going to have them welded but welding cast iron is a rare skill and my usual welder isn't currently accessible.

So I decided to use JB Weld. Here is the first one:



The worst that can happen is that they fall off. I accept cooling will be compromised but it was running happily without the fins so it won't be much worse than that. They are next to the exhaust port however so I expect will get pretty warm. JB weld is supposed to be good for a constant 500F - say 270C but we will find out eventually.

[Horse]

Is it worth putting some sort of pillar between them and to the nearest original fin?

If pushed in they would be almost invisible but might add strength?

[DefTrap]

I used jb to stuff up a core plug on the mighty Peugeot. Nearly 3 years and 30 odd k ago, so it's strong and durable.

[iansoady]

Is it worth putting some sort of pillar between them and to the nearest original fin?

If pushed in they would be almost invisible but might add strength?

Yes, I thought of that just after I'd done this one! I'll make up something to go between this and the next one - probably mild steel so that it will expand at about the same rate as the CI. Maybe also one under this one.

[Horse]

Is it worth putting some sort of pillar between them and to the nearest original fin?

If pushed in they would be almost invisible but might add strength?

Yes, I thought of that just after I'd done this one! I'll make up something to go between this and the next one - probably mild steel so that it will expand at about the same rate as the CI. Maybe also one under this one.

Bit late now . . .
. . . But would it have been worth bolting the two new fins together, then onto an existing fin?

[iansoady]

Far too late as I've now done both....

It may have been and if one or the other falls off in use (whenever that may be) I'll consider it.

[iansoady]

Finished with a coat of engine lacquer. Not perfect but will stand all but the closest scrutiny. The 2 fins beneath the exhaust port to the right. I just hope they don't fall off.....

[iansoady]

Not used in anger yet but just started on the stand. As a point of interest, it's the same petrol that's been in the tank since September or thereabouts and it started first kick and ran perfectly. Ethanol? Give me more of it.....

[JackyJoll]

I just went out on last year’s petrol, with missing fins.

[iansoady]

Just a quick update - have now been out several times and got the head nice and hot. The fins are still in place and haven't moved, so thumbs up to bodge!