Topic: How do you tell the diff between chromoly and stock axle shafts?

[*FFC*]

Ok, so I think I got a deal from a guy on CL today.  I got 2 drivers side and 2 passenger's side axle shafts and a short birf.  Two of the shafts are brand new from Marlin never used, only taken out of the box to show me before I put them back in and took them home.  The guy before bought them from Marlin in '03.  The other two and the birf are visually used, but still in pretty good shape.  Then the guy I bought them off of sold them to me, so he was the middle man, and I'm the that doesn't know the visual difference between chromoly and stock I don't have pics yet, not sure I can get them any time soon either

[IronClad]

no real way to tell unless they are stamped which i doubt they are. only chromo safts ive ever seen stamped were a set of d44  superriors.  sometimes you can tell if they are aftermarket  by  the coloring.  usually they will have darker rings in them.  best bet is to take them to a machinest that has the technolgy to test materials.

[*FFC* [OP]]

Hmmm.. Okay, thanks IC I'll have to do something like that.  They are two different colors basically one set is darker than the other

[CTENG in KS]

Ummm...the chrome-moly will be all-shiny-like? 

[bluetoy84]

Stock birfs will have "birfield ntn" stamped on the outside of the bell along with some other numbers. Chromo longs have "longfield" etched on the flat part of the bell.  I have bellfields and they are stock birfs that have been treated and a ring welded on the bell. They have "BF" stamped on the end of the stub shaft. Not sure about other brands, but I think longfield and marlin's are the only "chromoly" birfs and they look totally different than stock birfs.

[*FFC* [OP]]

Thank you.

I'm pretty sure the birf is stock, it's the axle shafts that I'm curious about. 

[bluetoy84]

The machined finish on the stock shafts between the bigger splined end and the seal surface absolutely looks like crap. It looks like they machined them as fast as they could. Aftermarket shafts will look a lot smoother. This still don't tell you if they are 4340, but if they where bought from marlin they should be the 4340 shafts. Did he ever sell anything else ? Not sure.

[Willy Mammoth]

I bet Marlin could tell, maybe even tell you who he sold them to and how much shipping was and what state the were shipped to and how nice that states is.

Sorry Marlin, I couldn't help myself. We all love you, but you already knew that too.
 

[Rocksurfer]

 

[*FFC* [OP]]

I bet Marlin could tell, maybe even tell you who he sold them to and how much shipping was and what state the were shipped to and how nice that states is.

Sorry Marlin, I couldn't help myself. We all love you, but you already knew that too.
 

Yeah, but I didn't want to bother him with it that's why I posted it here

[IronClad]

The machined finish on the stock shafts between the bigger splined end and the seal surface absolutely looks like crap. It looks like they machined them as fast as they could. Aftermarket shafts will look a lot smoother. This still don't tell you if they are 4340, but if they where bought from marlin they should be the 4340 shafts. Did he ever sell anything else ? Not sure.

not entirely. i see  the same deal on aftermarket shafts all the time.

[abnormaltoy]

Look at the price tag! 

[*FFC* [OP]]

Look at the price tag! 

There isn't a price tag

[derek]

put them in bobby longs axle breaking machine.
that will tell you based on the twist and break point.

[All_Set]

I'd measure the diameter on each of the axles and if they are all the same, I'd bet they are stock.  I'm pretty sure the 4340 shafts are a different diameter than the stockers.

I know the 30spliners measure 1.258".    (which are a hair bigger than my stock axles. (1.252"))

[IronClad]

not if they are stock spline.  they wont be bigger

[*FFC* [OP]]

I'd measure the diameter on each of the axles and if they are all the same, I'd bet they are stock.  I'm pretty sure the 4340 shafts are a different diameter than the stockers.

I know the 30spliners measure 1.258".    (which are a hair bigger than my stock axles. (1.252"))

I don't think they'd fit in the third if they're any bigger.... But all 4 of mine are the exact diameter

[All_Set]

I meant the diameter of the shaft, but not where the splines are. 

But as IC mentioned the 4340 are the same diameter as the stockers, so it wouldn't tell you anything anyways.  A friend said his 4340's from Pig were a smaller diameter than his stockers. (again, not where the splines are as yes that would be the same diameter.) So conflicting info verse what IC stated.

Borrow a camera!  Post some PICS! 

Picture time.  I'm talking about measuring here on the shafts.

[*FFC* [OP]]

Soon as I install my camera onto the computer I've been using at home I'll get pics up