roll over bar

[Phil]

At a later date I wish to remove the roll bar for possible painting or chroming, has anyone done this job and is it simple or hard to do

 

1990 h reg 1700ss de dion.

 

 

[Peter Carmichael]

DO NOT CHROME IT

 

Chroming involves the use of many caustic chemicals and results in hydrogen embrittlement. It is entirely inappropriate for stress bearing or safety components. Show cars can get away with it, but do not do it if you intend to drive your car anywhere.

 

Removing the bar is easy enough though. (fitting a roll cage however isn't so easy)

[V7 SLR]

fitting a roll cage however isn't so easy

 

Ne'er a word better said. I spent yesterday jumping up and down on top of mine, trying to get the front holes line up with the nuts welded into the chassis...

 

...after about 3 hours of this, I resorted to drilling out a single pop rivet each side only to watch the cage drop into place. I'd thought the cage-mount was clear of the rivets. Doh..!!

 

Dead chuffed with the results, although I ache so much from fitting it that I can't actually get in any more. smile.gif

[Roland]

"Hydrogen embrittlement" I though, would only apply to carbon steels, bolts of grade 10+ etc? What is the bar made from? (It is weldable so cannot have that much carbon present).

I have seen many other roll bars chromed, from F1 types to AC Cobras.

I want a shiny chrome one.

Roland

[Peter Carmichael]

Have a look at this description of chroming

 

Or try a Google search with the keywords "Hydrogen Embrittlement Chrome"

 

For shininess, I would advise paint.

[Gary Drew]

Roland,

 

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing" ....seems beautifully appropriate here.

 

The embrittlement is real (I'm sure the Blue Book forbids it on safety-related bits)

 

You won't have seen 'chromed' roll bars on F1 cars - if you're thinking of the gorgeous Lotus 49's etc it was probably nickel, but certainly not chrome.

 

Leave it to the lowriders and Fake Snakes (:~)

 

[Old Septimus]

Doesn't it make crack detection more difficult? You don't see many people who race old Maseratis etc with chromed Borranis.

[Phil]

Thanks for all the tips on chroming and I shall be avoiding that one and getting a powder coat or paint job instead. You all say removal of the bar is easy but I am unclear on fitting being hard to do, is it hard to refit a bar or do you mean it is hard to insatall from new or both.

 

 

[Morls]

I think mine was plated from new, along with wishbones and ARB, (Caterham Silver Jubilee 1983ish.)

 

Would this then be Nickel, not Chrome?

 

 

Mark

[Peter Carmichael]

Generally if something is called "chromed", the gloss silver finish is usually nickel. The chrome is a translucent layer on top which prevents the nickel from tarnishing.

 

All such finishes are very bad for the strength of the component.

[I reply to every thread]

Does Chris Clark know that - with his heated towel rail??

[Roland]

Oh dear, looks like our head lamps are about to fall off!!

 

Any one got a polished roll bar please?

 

Roland

[Andrew Walker]

What about electroless nickel plating and then oven treated to draw out the hydrogen?

[dino ferrana]

I believe Caterham stopped offering chromed suspension when it was found to cause strength problems! I don't think they would allow it from new anymore.