I posted about this in the Drag Racing forum, but since many of you Type-R guys are also running titanium retainers, thought you guys could use the info too. As many of you know, titanium retainers gall and fail, with catastrophic results. Coating the retainers with Titanium Nitride may be at least a partial solution to the problem. Here are my Portflow retainers with the coating; I just got them back from Brycoat last night (thanks for the help-Beave0101) :

I first heard about this coating in this thread by dplatt:
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=455732

 

I have not had any problems with ti retainers.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sgT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have not had any problems with ti retainers.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Me neither, but others have:
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=375441

 

Looks to me like a product of coil bind from the use of JUN springs and cams.

Coil bind causes retainer failure, ti or not.

 

I have heard from more than one source that titanium is subject to metal transfer when in contact with certain other metals. I am not a metalurgist, but I will worry just a little less with coated retainers

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b19coupe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but I will worry just a little less with coated retainers </TD></TR></TABLE>

As would I. The way I see it, coating the retainers is like hoodpins on a CF hood or a PE timing belt on big cams - (relatively) cheap insurance.

 

I will never use Ti tainers again.......FYI




30K miles with spec B's and Toda springs BTW

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18CXr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I will never use Ti tainers again.......FYI</TD></TR></TABLE>

what you recommend for big aftermarket cams, Jack? coated Ti? stock? Just curious. Thanks.

 

I am going to be running JUN valve springs and JUN retainers in my b18c1 soon.

My friend just put the new springs and retainers in. What can I do to this install to insure that something like this won't happen ??

I am running Skunk2 stage 2 cams by the way......

 

What can I do to this install to insure that something like this won't happen ??


replace when needed...

Ti = wear item

 

As far as stock height for the springs, my friend and I have no way of measuring to make sure its correct height. Can I take this to a machine shop and have them measure it and make sure that it is at proper height ???

 

A machine shop or engine builder that specializes in imports. I would not take it to Joe Chevy builder.

 

Has anybody ever confirmed what the material spec of Ti retainers really is?

Most definitely not CP (or at least hopefully not), but 3/2.5, 6/4...some other blend?

TiN coating will help with galling...but it won't prevent breakage due to coil bind...

--
George

 

I talked to sgTR about it, and I already have my jun springs/retainers in, but I am taking it to a machine shop.

I'm gonna tell them the cams have 12.3mm lift and you need the install height set so that the spring wont bind...... hopefully that works.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by geometro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Has anybody ever confirmed what the material spec of Ti retainers really is? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Titanium likes to gaul. against itself, chromoly, steel, oh.. pretty much anything. If you choose to use TI retainiers on a street car, i suggest inspecting regularly, and replacing when needed. most definatly a wear item

D

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by D &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Titanium likes to gaul. against itself, chromoly, steel, oh.. pretty much anything. If you choose to use TI retainiers on a street car, i suggest inspecting regularly, and replacing when needed. most definatly a wear item

D</TD></TR></TABLE>

how would you go about checking? taking valve cover off, regularly?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jordo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

how would you go about checking? taking valve cover off, regularly? </TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes, and use a setup kinda like this:

 

Yeah, that is why race engines need to be rebuilt often....they are meant to last long enough to win races....not survive daily commutes for 2 years running...that's a big reason why racing takes a lot of $$ to do professionally.