I admit that I have not been following this "box" beam thread very

closely,

but when you leave that slot full length, you no longer have a "box" and
the torsional stiffness is almost zilch, and the buckling strength
severely compromised - Vance

Yes all true but there are no torsional loads to speak of. The bending
strength is higher than the 1-1/2 inch high hat section beam  Jerry static
tested by supporting his pickup truck because it is now two inches high.
Think of it as a two inch high hat section with the flanges bent inwards
rather than outwards.

Never the less having said all that it is easy to beef it up by capping

the top

with a short length of flat 4130 sheet  outboard of the ring gear slot.

Namely directly

over the two bolts that fasten it to the engine and beyond a couple of

inches.

This is the area of the highest stress.

Jerry can also lower his pickup truck on this one as well.

Paul Lamar

Paul/Jerry.
Now that Vance has brought it up, I was wondering why Jerry didn't just mill
out a strip (from square tube) to take the fly-wheel and leave the rest for
added strength !?
Is it cheaper to fold it ?
George (down under)

2 by 3 by 4130 tubing is hard to come by if anybody makes it at all.

Paul Lamar
 
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