Window winder arm snapped

[crankedup]

The winder arm is from my 1928 Vauxhall and it seems very unlikely that I will find a replacement to the original pattern and style. Any thoughts or leads as to where/how I might have this item repaired?

[chard]

Might be worth trying "Araldite" I've had a few successes. If it doesn't work what have you lost?

[AndrewW-G]

Whats it made out of?

[davepoth]

?



Seriously though, everything on that car would have been made by a man in (a big) shed, so it can't be beyond a man in (a much smaller) shed to repair or make a new one given enough time. what's it made out of?

[crankedup]

I should have mentioned the material, it seems to be a cast steel, its far to heavy to be alloy and looking at the break the metal has a almost crystal like look and glint to it.

[LordBretSinclair]

crankedup said:

I should have mentioned the material, it seems to be a cast steel, its far to heavy to be alloy and looking at the break the metal has a almost crystal like look and glint to it.

Is it made of mazak??

[Hooli]

LordBretSinclair said:

crankedup said:

I should have mentioned the material, it seems to be a cast steel, its far to heavy to be alloy and looking at the break the metal has a almost crystal like look and glint to it.

Is it made of mazak??

Pop Mazak?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avvh5H-EPWU





Sorry

[MikeyT]

If it is mazak then welding is out as it'll be blown apart - you might be able to glue it with some decent superglue type stuff - or if it is solid and will take a thread (if not then fill with some liquid metal stuff and allow to set) then you could tap it and get a decent screw/bolt in there - double ended, just screw it in - then screw the other end of the handle on(and glue as well)

Could you grind amd chamfer the edge, glue it, then solder right round the circumference of it?

Is it chrome?

Any pics?

[crankedup]

Its possibly mazak but I'm not sure, I do know that material is a pain especially when it was used to manufacture carb's. I will try and get a couple of pictures up shortly, meanwhile thanks for the tips and advise.

[AndrewW-G]

crankedup said:

Its possibly mazak but I'm not sure, I do know that material is a pain especially when it was used to manufacture carb's. I will try and get a couple of pictures up shortly, meanwhile thanks for the tips and advise.

I found a guy in Chester a couple of years ago who cast small runs of small'ish parts (his main business was making die cast models) although it's not the cheapest of options

[garethj]

Depends where the break is, but rather than just blobbing glue on it, can you drill a hole down inside the casting and put a steel pin in there? The same for the other part, then glue the pin and it's the steel pin that takes the force, not the glue joint.

Otherwise getting it re-cast is an option, as said above. Maybe try Malcolm Nicholls Ltd - they do prototype parts but I'm not sure they do metal castings. If not, they'll know someone who does, and they can get it plated too.

[eccles]

I'm off for the annual trip to Beaulieu autojumble in a couple of weeks. If you get some pics up, I'll keep an eye out.

[crankedup]

Thanks for all offers and inputs, a Austin 7 friend is going to attempt the repair method suggested by Garethj and also hone out the escutcheons a tiny amount as well. As the material is definitely the dreaded Mazak, therefore will be using a powerful adhesive and lots of hope!

[crankedup]

Pleased to say that the winder arm is now repaired, he used the pin and glue method and it seems to have worked a treat. Thanks to everyone for comments and advise.

[guru_1071]

can you also swop them left to right, so that the damaged one doesnt get as much use?

[crankedup]

guru_1071 said:

can you also swop them left to right, so that the damaged one doesnt get as much use?

Yes, I am lucky that is possible to do, I have put the 'suspect one' into the rear offside now and the good'un onto my drivers doors. The other thing about my cars window winders is that Vauxhall used the spline attachment method and I notice that one of the splines has just about had it! Thats the thing about a 83 year old car with an original interior I guess.