Hubley kits

[chevyfever2009]

Ok im building a hubley kit for a gentleman and ran it to a little problem ghe steering rod inbetween the to wheels is bent. So on metal models how can i fix this as its bent bad enough it bring one side in the air? I was told not if its true the metal its made out of is pot metal and easily breaks when heated. Can anyone tell me a way to fix it with out destroying the part

[Ace-Garageguy]

Most all die-cast stuff is pot-metal, as you've been told, and I wouldn't try heating pot-metal or die-cast to repair it. Pot-metal can have widely variable chemical compositions and without a lab to analyze it to determine its exact melting point, you have no idea how it will behave.

Pot-metal is a cheap, LOW melting point zinc-based alloy, and some examples have a very narrow temperature margin between being slightly more malleable and melting into a puddle (like solder). This is a very real possibility.

You MAY be able to get SOME increased malleability by heating the part in boiling water (which is not hot enough to melt the part), but handling a 212deg. F. part to work it before it cools, and without hurting yourself, can be difficult

You can try GENTLY cold-forming it by hand, or GENTLY trying to hammer it into shape with a soft-faced (preferably wooden) tool, but it can be extremely brittle and will often crack rather than allow itself to be re-shaped.

I have a lot of experience with this stuff during 1:1 car restoration work (many older cars used pot-metal trim parts) and some can be repaired relatively easily, some only shatters and cracks when you try it.

Be careful, and good luck.

Edited September 11, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy

[jeffs396]

Brad, if you do snap the steering linkage while trying to bend it back into shape, you could possibly sleeve it with brass or aluminum tubing.