Forestsay - Slightly smaller clevis pin ok?

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Can't agree with that, mate: bronze bushes are not hard enough for this application and will quickly distort. I again recommend one of stainless steel if that route is followed.

It really depend son the bronze that is used. If you happen to have access to a siliconised bronze bushing it would be fine. It's harder and stronger than the stainless. The problem is most hardware store stuff is going to be some crap alloy with a ton of zinc (technically this makes it brass not bronze), and this stuff won't work at all.

Bronze is one of those metals that has so many alloys, it's hard to make absolute statements about it.

[islandplanet]

Originally Posted by Stumble

Peter,


Sources I know that oppose using undersized pins...
Brion Toss
Sailing magazine
Offshore Sailing
Dixieland Surveyors

The list goes on and on...

You can add me to that list. Seen that done and what tends to happen is the metal starts wear and the hole gets out of round. Point loads aren't healthy.

[Cheechako]

the problem is that the wall thickness of the bushing will only be 1/32". most hardware store brz bushings ive seen are cast bronze. These hold oil better , that's why they us it, low wear but more brittle. You wont find one that has a 1/32 wall I dont think. Not sure... but you might find stainless steel tubing around with .032 wall and 1/2 OD. a busihing must fit the width of the fork. I think it's best that your pin match the hole, but not convinced 7/16 in 1/2 is an earthshaking event. If the hole or pin wears, the load bearing side will then fit!. Not convinced there wasnt alot of that type of thing in the old old days. Still.... it's the head stay... probably the most important on your boat. fix your screw up! It happens. Hard to get the chainplate off? The hole could be welded and reamed. I have seen pins with a worn shoulder on them that were in the right size hole... probably from rig pumping....

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Stumble

It really depend son the bronze that is used. If you happen to have access to a siliconised bronze bushing it would be fine. It's harder and stronger than the stainless. The problem is most hardware store stuff is going to be some crap alloy with a ton of zinc (technically this makes it brass not bronze), and this stuff won't work at all.

Bronze is one of those metals that has so many alloys, it's hard to make absolute statements about it.

True, but for me when one says "bronze bushing from the hardware store" I think of Oilite or some other scintered material with built in lubrication, not a structural bushing.

Cheers,

Jim

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

True, but for me when one says "bronze bushing from the hardware store" I think of Oilite or some other scintered material with built in lubrication, not a structural bushing.

Cheers,

Jim

Yep, pretty sure a cast bronze bushing will crumble into pieces rather fast if only 1/32 thick. Try SS Hydraulic 1/2 od and see if they have that wall thickness.