Alpha
Romeo automobiles are Italian sports cars known for their power,
performance, and expense. Since 1911, when two 24-hp Alphas entered the Targa Florio competition, the Italian carmaker
has been a part of international motorsport. Today, Alpha aficionados known as
"Alfistas" regularly gather on-line to discuss engine maintenance and repair.
The Alpha Bulletin Board, an automotive
website with news and technical forums, is where a user named xray explained
how he used the Flex-Hone from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) to restore
an Alpha Romeo engine.
Flexible Honing for Automotive Hobbyists
Like Alpha Romeo S.p.A, Brush
Research has a long and distinguished history of building high-quality products.
Since 1953, our American-made honing tools and industrial brushes have helped
solved difficult finishing problems in a variety of applications, including automotive. Built with a
stiff metal stem, flexible nylon filaments, and abrasive globules, our
Flex-Hone tool is a favorite of automotive hobbyists. As xray explained on the
Alpha Bulletin Board, BRM offers flexible hones in a variety of sizes and
abrasive grits, and backs its products with a technical staff that is "very
nice to deal with".
Engine Teardown and Cylinder Reconditioning
After tearing down his 1986 GTV6
Alpha Romeo engine, xray honed the runners to about 37-mm and matched the heads
to the gaskets. Next, he clamped the mandrel of a slightly oversized 38-mm Flex-Hone into the chuck of a variable-speed Dewalt electric drill. Self-aligning and self-centering to the bore,
the Flex-Hone maintains a constant pressure against worn cylinder walls. The tool
is also self-compensating for wear, meaning that its abrasive globules provide
a consistent low-temperature, soft-cutting action for optimum lubrication and plateau finishing.
Engine Hones - Abrasive Grits and Proper Use
After finishing the cylinder walls
with a 60-grit Flex-Hone, xray switched to a 380-grit tool to achieve a "super
smooth, almost shiny" surface. Although some applications involve starting with
a coarser grit Flex-Hone before moving to a finer grit one, BRM caution users against overhoning. The ideal
surface-finish for cylinder walls is the uniform cross-hatch pattern of peaks
and valleys that the Flex-Hone imparts - not one that is overhoned. BRM also
reminds users that the Flex-Hone is a low RPM tool, and not to "set the drill on high speed" as xray suggests.
By manufacturing high-quality brush
tools and providing top-notch technical support, BRM has solved difficult surface
finishing problems for over 60 years. So whether you're a diehard "Alfista" or a
fan of another automotive nameplate or brand, choose the Flex-Hone for cylinder reconditioning.
Author's Note: This CR4 Blog Entry originally appeared in BRM's Flex-Hone Blog.
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