Help, Where To Buy Steel Plate?

Drewski · 19th August 2015, 09:03

'Anybody know of somewhere in the Midlands where I can buy a piece of 1/2" steel plate, approx 500mm x 250mm? It's to make a puller to get the cylinder block off my bike.
TIA, DRew.

KWIL · 19th August 2015, 09:27

There are several structural fabricators around Cambridge, knock on their door, your size is an off cut!

Drewski · 19th August 2015, 09:38

Cambridge used to have a brilliant engineering workshop called Moores where you could pop in and get almost anything done on the spot....it was perfect for getting a head skimmed or removing or broken stud etc but sadly, like a lot of places, they shut down years ago.
I'm up in B'ham at the moment and so is the bike so I'm looking for somewhere up here.

RayH · 19th August 2015, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drewski

Cambridge used to have a brilliant engineering workshop called Moores where you could pop in and get almost anything done on the spot....it was perfect for getting a head skimmed or removing or broken stud etc but sadly, like a lot of places, they shut down years ago.
I'm up in B'ham at the moment and so is the bike so I'm looking for somewhere up here.

Have a look for "steel stockist" either on line or Yellow Pages, give them a call, as previously mentioned it'll be an offcut so you'll be paying cash most likely

Drewski · 19th August 2015, 10:22

This is what it's for, I found some 10mm thick plate but I'm not sure if that'll be thick enough. The holes in the plate are tapped and then bolts screw in and onto the top of the cylinder studs while other smaller bolts hold the puller to the block. The larger bolts are screwed down thus pulling the cylinder block up and off.

StewartIngram · 19th August 2015, 11:21

Try Mackays on East Road near the roundabout. If they don't have it they will know where to get it.
Stewart

Mr Bone · 20th August 2015, 08:35

Looking at the photo I would think your steel plate is up to the job. If any of the bolts are threaded to the casing, and enough force is being applied through them to put the thickness of the plate in question, then take care not to tear the bolt out of the thread.
Honda CB750 barrels were swines for corroding to the studs like that.
Pouring diesel down the holes, a piece of copper bar as a drift and a carefully applied hammer should free it. And a lot of patience.

Three pot two stroke?, Suzuki GT380 at a guess.

KWIL · 20th August 2015, 09:10

Lots of patience required, just make sure every bolt is each turned by the same angle, in small steps, otherwise the plate will tilt and jam the head on the studs

p2roverman · 20th August 2015, 09:18

For steel plate, and in fact all steel, ally, etc sheet and sections in small quanitities, is there a 'Metal Supermarket' branch near you?

Drewski · 20th August 2015, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Bone

Looking at the photo I would think your steel plate is up to the job. If any of the bolts are threaded to the casing, and enough force is being applied through them to put the thickness of the plate in question, then take care not to tear the bolt out of the thread.
Honda CB750 barrels were swines for corroding to the studs like that.
Pouring diesel down the holes, a piece of copper bar as a drift and a carefully applied hammer should free it. And a lot of patience.

Three pot two stroke?, Suzuki GT380 at a guess.

Thanks Mr Bone, the plate is held onto the cylinder block by 9 M8 screws that screw into the cylinder about 40mm. Then the "pusher screws" screw into the plate and push down onto the cylinder studs in the cylinder. I presume this is why 1/2 inch plate is used rather than anything thinner, so that the threads don't strip.
The offending bike is a 1975 GT750 that I inherited after my brother passed away a short while back. I promissed his daughters that I'd restore it.......gawd knows why

The cylinders are well known for allowing water into the cylinder stud recesses which, after time, (40 years), then cements the cylinder block onto the crank cases.
I gave up looking for the steel plate after a while yesterday and focussed on the "pusher" screws instead........just as bloomin hard to find

I can find them the right strength, length, full threaded and fine pitch, but not all four of these things together! I'm considering using 1.5 pitch instead.

19th August 2015, 09:03	#1
Drewski Loves to post 2002 CDT Connie SE Tourer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cambridge Posts: 482 Thanks: 21 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Help, Where To Buy Steel Plate? 'Anybody know of somewhere in the Midlands where I can buy a piece of 1/2" steel plate, approx 500mm x 250mm? It's to make a puller to get the cylinder block off my bike. TIA, DRew.

19th August 2015, 10:22	#5
Drewski Loves to post 2002 CDT Connie SE Tourer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cambridge Posts: 482 Thanks: 21 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	This is what it's for, I found some 10mm thick plate but I'm not sure if that'll be thick enough. The holes in the plate are tapped and then bolts screw in and onto the top of the cylinder studs while other smaller bolts hold the puller to the block. The larger bolts are screwed down thus pulling the cylinder block up and off. Last edited by Drewski; 19th August 2015 at 10:30..

19th August 2015, 09:27	#2
KWIL Precise Rover 75 Tourer 2.5KV6 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Fleet Posts: 2,958 Thanks: 630 Thanked 617 Times in 480 Posts	There are several structural fabricators around Cambridge, knock on their door, your size is an off cut!

19th August 2015, 09:38	#3
Drewski Loves to post 2002 CDT Connie SE Tourer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cambridge Posts: 482 Thanks: 21 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Cambridge used to have a brilliant engineering workshop called Moores where you could pop in and get almost anything done on the spot....it was perfect for getting a head skimmed or removing or broken stud etc but sadly, like a lot of places, they shut down years ago. I'm up in B'ham at the moment and so is the bike so I'm looking for somewhere up here.

19th August 2015, 11:21	#6
StewartIngram Gets stuck in Rover 75 Connoisseur 2.5 V6 auto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chatteris, Cambridgeshire Posts: 917 Thanks: 320 Thanked 159 Times in 127 Posts	Try Mackays on East Road near the roundabout. If they don't have it they will know where to get it. Stewart

20th August 2015, 08:35	#7
Mr Bone Gets stuck in 75 Cdt. VW Touareg V6 Tdi. Galaxy 1.9Tdi (x2). R1200GS Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Planet Zog Posts: 742 Thanks: 169 Thanked 206 Times in 145 Posts	Looking at the photo I would think your steel plate is up to the job. If any of the bolts are threaded to the casing, and enough force is being applied through them to put the thickness of the plate in question, then take care not to tear the bolt out of the thread. Honda CB750 barrels were swines for corroding to the studs like that. Pouring diesel down the holes, a piece of copper bar as a drift and a carefully applied hammer should free it. And a lot of patience. Three pot two stroke?, Suzuki GT380 at a guess.

20th August 2015, 09:10	#8
KWIL Precise Rover 75 Tourer 2.5KV6 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Fleet Posts: 2,958 Thanks: 630 Thanked 617 Times in 480 Posts	Lots of patience required, just make sure every bolt is each turned by the same angle, in small steps, otherwise the plate will tilt and jam the head on the studs

20th August 2015, 09:18	#9
p2roverman Gets stuck in Rover 75 Connie Tourer & Connie SE Saloon & Club SE Tourer Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Leeds Posts: 979 Thanks: 199 Thanked 71 Times in 59 Posts	For steel plate, and in fact all steel, ally, etc sheet and sections in small quanitities, is there a 'Metal Supermarket' branch near you?