Titanium Wrist pins

[Vielzidub 3]

Having gotten round to balancing some forged pistons I have, I found that having removed the wrist pins I could get down to beneath the 550g limit of my 0.1g scales (actually weigh about 440g), which got me wondering. I weighed the wrist pins and each one came in weighing exactly the same to a tenth of a gramm. (135.2g I think) and I was thinking that since this is approximatly 25% 0f the Piston + wrist pin mass, and is basically just a thick tube (thus cheaper to manufacture than say Pistons), titanium would be a viable alternative reducing mass, and maintaining the strength for this part.

Any engine known to use Ti wrist pins? Any reasons why this is not viable?

Just a thought!

[Bill K.]

I have used Tipins on several occasions.. The fact is they are very hard on wrist pin bushings and wipe them out fast if used conventionally.

I have had excellent results from DLC coating the pins to reduce the friction between the pin/bushing. This only cost about 35 bucks per pin and after it's applied the wear issues go away.

I have went as far as doing this with NO BUSHING in the rod, just a DLC coated pin into a steel small end.

BTW- This is Jake- logged in as Bill!

[Piledriver]

I have read tool steel pins (which can still weigh 50% less than std) are not recommended on the street.

Anyone know why?

Jake, get some sleep.

[Bruce2]

.. The fact is they are very hard on wrist pin bushings and wipe them out fast if used conventionally.

Why would that be? Unless the surface finish was rougher than a standard pin, I don't see why Ti would wear differently than steel. Ti valves don't eat brass valve guides.

[Santas Brother]

I've read where Titanium and Aluminum don't work well together.
That's why Titanium wrist pins are usually coated.
Casadium is popular,no idea how it compares to DLC.