connecting rods

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Butch Kavanagh
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Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:11 pm
Location: pt charlotte fl

connecting rods

Post by Butch Kavanagh » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:27 pm

just some thoughts as the rod bolts are tightened and a beer and some wax are applied to our karts for TBO. was reading hill distributing co, holland mich catologue other day, 1973 roy flemming(dad ernie, ikf gov for yrs) was mgr, him and pearl gamble, b-stock, those days. they were all ready on the scales when i took the checkered flag. question, what were the best connecting rods and why., what lasted, shot-peened, polished etc. what brought it to my attn was the "christensen" rods for wb820's. i actually finished some races in my last days w/a jeff rod. mac's--silver rod??? did anybody out there ever use a Hyprode rod, think they also has an off-set rod. i'm sure there were other brands of connecting rods out there. i thought the subect would be interesting. butch

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mcbob
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Re: connecting rods

Post by mcbob » Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:39 am

I'll second that write away fellas i'm all eyes

Mc Bob

Chris Hamm
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Vintage Karting items owned: Old McCulloch parts. Raced successfully in the late 50's and 60's in A Mod Heavy
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Re: connecting rods

Post by Chris Hamm » Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:04 am

I have used Mc rods and Hyprode rods in modified alky Mc 9's. Wound them tight and never, ever had a problem with either rod. I did blow one Hyprode rod, but that was my fault. I over-lightened a Wiseco piston and pulled the wrist pin right out of the piston. That sucker was fast! Not the rod's fault. Only rod blown in eight years of modified racing.

My experience, then, says that both rods will take a real pounding for great periods of time. I have read that some people had problems with the Hyprode rod's crank bearing shell coming apart at the edges. The shell was thin, but I never had that problem. The big advantages of the Hyprode rod were that it was lighter and stronger than the stock Mc steel con rod.

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