The other day I was tempering the blade for an old Army knife that i got at an antique store, and I was wondering, since Doc's hardened gears aren't available anymore (at least from last I had heard), if it'd be possible to get steel gears and temper those for some extra reliability.

Thoughts?

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

We just heat treated a new batch so I have hardened gears for sale.

You can also make your own but it's a lot of work.
DD

Well hey, if you've got a new batch, I'll have to order one from you once it's time to take care of the oil pump

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

BTW how much work would it take to harden a gear myself?

When I do blades I heat 'em up with a blowtorch and dunk 'em in ice water about a dozen or so times. Is that similar to the method you use Doc?

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

The big difference between what we are doing is the material type.
Your blades are made of high carbon steel, the Slant Six oil pump gear is made of cast iron.

The goal with these gears is to put a hard "skin" on the surface while keeping the core soft, this keep the gear from shattering.
I use a professional heat treater to do the carburizing process. They heat the gears up to 1600 degrees in a carbon rich atmosphere so the surface "soaks-up" more carbon. After that, the parts are tempered, I think they heat and then dunk them in a special oil bath, I'm not sure what that does to them.
DD

I remember reading about oil bathing parts after heating or welding to keep the temperature uniform and slowly cool them rather than quenching them out it. I've used the same type of technique when welding up a 'backyard posi' for demo derby, it does keep the spider gears from becoming too brittle after so much heat and shattering on take off....

that's just my thought...

-D.Idiot

Yeah I'll just order one from you once I get to the pump

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me