Bent Aluminium question

[Shogun1122]

So, I didnt make the 25' jump over the 12' deep gap (not even 3/4 the way there). Now i have a bent new era aluminium upper A arm that i have since bent back. It wasent more than a few degrees off, just enough to bind the swing action.

My Question is, should i buy a new A arm or should i stick with the one i have. How much weaker is the metal now?

 

[Lessen]

Assuming that you got it as straight as it was when it was new it is probably strong enough to run with... but I'm sure it will be the first thing to break the next time you hit something hard.

 

[El Pirata]

You were just schooled on the downside of aluminum a-arms.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

If it works, USE IT!

It will be more prone to bending there again, but, barring any 12' gaps, it should hold up for a while

 

[Hypedonrc]

Weaker? yes
Still useable? you say so
Replace it? next time. You know when it breaks/bends on the first tank/first jump as my luck has it.

 

[militarymaxx]

A little metallurgy 101:

Ferrous alloys (a.k.a. steel) and titanium have a threshold below which a repeating load may be applied an infinite number of times without causing failure. This is called the fatigue limit, or endurance limit. Aluminum doesn't exhibit an endurance limit, meaning that even with a miniscule load, it will eventually fail after enough load cycles.

 

[Ryhton]

Just order up another one and put it aside till the other one breaks and then put it on. That way no down time, its not will it fail it is when it fails.

 

[SkyMaxx]

That must have been one spectacular failed jump/bad landing to bend that particular a-arm. They are a bit on the beefy side.

 

[bashmaster]

did you use a torch and get the metal nice and rosy red hot before you bent it back? if you heat it up, it retains much more strength.

 

[SokuShi]

you could harden the aluminum if you are worried about the strenght, get a butane torch, and a bucket of room temp water, get the metal red hot then dip it in there till it cools.

this could crack the metal but its unlikely

 

[Shogun1122]

Wow guys, thanks for all the great info.

Yeah it was qutie the spill, i wish i had a pic to show you. My friends were pist i did it with no cammera around. However i will never do that again, i like my savage too much. I was stoked to see only a slightly bent A-arm, i had feared it was going to be much worse. Durability factor is an 11 on a scale of 1-10.

So heating the Al. wont weaken it, but actually strengthen it. I didnt heat my when i bent it back, just a good ol' claw hammer and a towel. Probably not the best way huh?

Should I try and hide the A-arm in the rear, since those break way less often, or should i leave it in the front and just have spares waiting?

 

[SkyMaxx]

You can switch them out; but in these things if it is going to break, it doesn't matter where you put it.

Welcome to the fun of bashing, breaking, repairing, and rebashing...the vicious cycle of the RC basher.