Were Stromberg OF throttle and economizer arms copper plated?

BuddyTheRoadster · Post by **BuddyTheRoadster** » Mon May 31, 2021 3:53 pm

I started cleaning a Stromberg OF, and the throttle and economizer arms look like they were copper plated. I know that Winfield copper plated S and SR bodies, but has anybody seen this on Stromberg steel parts?

Dropacent · Post by **Dropacent** » Mon May 31, 2021 3:59 pm

They had a pretty thin flash plating on them for rustproofing. It’s pretty uncommon to find one with anything still showing. I do mine in nickel plate, which is copper flash and then dull nickel. Gives them a nice look and rustproofs them.

BuddyTheRoadster · Post by **BuddyTheRoadster** » Mon May 31, 2021 4:12 pm

Thanks Tim! I've never seen copper plating on a contemporary carb, but a "rustproofing" flash plating wouldn't surprise me at all.

Scott_Conger · Post by **Scott_Conger** » Mon May 31, 2021 5:21 pm

I have 7 OF's at the bench and of those, 1 clearly has remains of a copper wash and 3 have the remnants of an obvious brass wash. They are all extremely thinly flashed as mentioned. I think I've seen more brass than copper and that seems to be borne out with what I have right now. I have seen the same thing on the internal economizer spring as well.

Post by **Dan Hatch** » Tue Jun 01, 2021 10:36 am

Strange copper plate on parts has come up. I recently found copper plating on some NOS rear parts. The remains on Pinion gear and differential gear that goes on axle.
Must have been used a lot to prevent rust.
Also brush plates were copper plated. Dan

Scott_Conger · Post by **Scott_Conger** » Tue Jun 01, 2021 11:36 am

Dan

I, too, have seen the copper wash on pinion gears and the very end of the inboard end of axles. I suspect that it was there as an anti-galling agent for assembly purposes.

Dropacent · Post by **Dropacent** » Tue Jun 01, 2021 12:10 pm

Here are my parts with a quick nickel plate. The two on the right had a quick skuff with a scotch brite pad. The RF had a black painted finish that rarely survived, like the flash plating. I did a couple of my favs in black powder coat. That should be worth an extra MPH !

Dan McEachern · Post by **Dan McEachern** » Tue Jun 01, 2021 8:13 pm

The copper plating on gears is part of the heat treating process. The copper plating acts as a stop-off for the carburizing process to mask areas that are not to be fully hardened. Its not a rust prevention issue.

Scott_Conger · Post by **Scott_Conger** » Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:15 pm

Thank you for the lesson Dan

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Were Stromberg OF throttle and economizer arms copper plated?

Were Stromberg OF throttle and economizer arms copper plated?

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Re: Were Stromberg OF throttle and economizer arms copper plated?

Re: Were Stromberg OF throttle and economizer arms copper plated?

Re: Were Stromberg OF throttle and economizer arms copper plated?

Re: Were Stromberg OF throttle and economizer arms copper plated?

Re: Were Stromberg OF throttle and economizer arms copper plated?

Re: Were Stromberg OF throttle and economizer arms copper plated?

Re: Were Stromberg OF throttle and economizer arms copper plated?