Chroming/Restoring Cylinders

Didn't GMA used to restore older worn-out engines by re-chroming the cylinder then honing it to properly fit the piston? I think he did this to crankshafts, too.

Is there anyone else who performs this service? I have a Max-S 35 and a Merco 40 I'd consider breathing new life into.

Rick Campbell

>Didn't GMA used to restore older worn-out engines by
>re-chroming the cylinder then honing it to properly fit
>the piston? I think he did this to crankshafts, too.
>
>Is there anyone else who performs this service? I have a
>Max-S 35 and a Merco 40 I'd consider breathing new life
>into.
>
>Rick Campbell

Correct. Both Bob Oge and Don Blackburn (among others) do this also. Although Don believes in chroming the piston rather than the sleeve (he told me he always disagreed with George on this, but it was a friendly type difference of opinion). Bob Oge fixed my worn out Johnson .33S. It looked great outside, but some doofus had run it on R/C weedkiller fuel and both the piston/sleeve fit and the main bearing were shot. Bob chromed the shaft and sleeve and re-lapped them. The motor is like new now. He also fixed my worn out Max .35S.

COULD YOU LIST THE CONTACT ADDRESS FOR THESE REPAIR PEOPLE PLEASE AND THANKS

You might check the PAMPA directory available on line and in the Yellow Directory book, if you are a member o/w the net site works great.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-16-03 AT 10:02 PM (CDT)
 
>COULD YOU LIST THE CONTACT ADDRESS FOR THESE REPAIR PEOPLE
>PLEASE AND THANKS

Sure thing...

Bob Oge:

Model Engine Specialties
15477 Owens Road
Hinckley, Illinois 60520
ph. (815) 286-2969

Don Blackburn:

Blackburn Aero Engineering
P.O. Box 15143
Amarillo, Texas 79105
ph. (806) 622-1657

If you send it out to get chromed, kiss it good-bye first. A good plater is always backed up big time. Only send them one thing to do at a time and, don't bug them about getting it done. If the job is too big or, if they don't like your tone, it might get put on the back burner sometimes for years. You might never get your stuff back.

Giffy

My experience with Don Blackburn is 100% satisfactory. He rarely takes more than 7-10 days to finish an engine project, including chroming. His work is superb, and prices are very fair. Plus, he's a bass fisherman! Highly recommended!

Bill Hummel

>My experience with Don Blackburn is 100% satisfactory. He
>rarely takes more than 7-10 days to finish an engine
>project, including chroming. His work is superb, and prices
>are very fair. Plus, he's a bass fisherman! Highly
>recommended!
>
>Bill Hummel

Amen...

Back in the old days of iron-pistoned Combat engines, getting your engine rechromed was a very common thing. The usual advice was to run the heck out of your Mark IV, then send it in for chroming. That way you end up with an engine with all the parts settled in, and the chrome job will make it better AND the compression will last.