Billet clutch baskets are, well..... Fake?

[Paul.S]

I just sent my clutch basket to Falicon and had them install a new "Billet" clutch basket onto my gear. It cost about $475 before S&H. I just got it back and the basket has "Falicon" stamped in it but it is not billet. It is a cast basket. Does Falicon not know the definition of billet? The receipt even says billet. I am sure it is probably a high quality part and I do intend on using it but was just disappointed in false advertising.

 

[Dogma]

What makes you say it's not billet aluminum?

 

[Paul.S]

What makes you say it's not billet aluminum?

I can tell just by looking at it. The surface is rough just like any cast peice. A billet aluminum part is machined from a solid block of aluminum and you can easily tell when done. The suface will be much smoother and you would see all the lines in the metal if you look closely from where the mill and lathe took the metal off one sliver of aluminum at a time.

 

[posplayr]

This thread is worthless without pics!

 

[Paul.S]

Here is a picture of the new Falicon basket.

 

[chuck hahn]

Here is what "billet" means contrary to what some preconcieve it ti be. Billet simply means a "block" of any material.

What is a billet of aluminum?


A billet is a solid block of aluminum (or any material) with the size depending on the size of your desired part. The larger the desired part, the larger the billet. Contrary to casting, billet parts are created by removing excess material from the billet, essentially the part is carved out of solid aluminum.

 

[chuck hahn]

Pauls piece looks casted to me. Note the crease line at the top area of the part. If it were a machined part from a billet of aluminum that crease woudnt be there. Any no folks aluminum is just aluminum and the word "billet" doesnt make it any "superior" grade of aluminum either.

 

[Paul.S]

Here is what "billet" means contrary to what some preconcieve it ti be. Billet simply means a "block" of any material.

What is a billet of aluminum?


A billet is a solid block of aluminum (or any material) with the size depending on the size of your desired part. The larger the desired part, the larger the billet. Contrary to casting, billet parts are created by removing excess material from the billet, essentially the part is carved out of solid aluminum.

Yes that is correct and that is exactly how I explained it earlier in this thread. A quick look at the picture I just posted will show that the basket is in fact a cast basket.

 

[Nessism]

Cast is not billet.

Should have gone to APE. Falicon's reputation these days is not what it used to be.

 

[Guest]

It sure looks like it was cast and not carved to me.

This is what I would think a true billet clutch basket would look like.

 

[chuck hahn]

Ive agrued the point that billet simply means a block of any particular material...be it wood, rock, steel, or whatever here and people called me out saying that billet was some sort of "super" grade of aluminum. Show some more close up pics of the casting creases Paul.

 

[Paul.S]

Cast is not billet.

Should have gone to APE. Falicon's reputation these days is not what it used to be.

From the pictures I can see online, it appears the APE "billet" baskets are also cast. They might even be made by the same company just different names stamped in them.

 

[Paul.S]

Can anyone show me a picture of a real Billet GS1100 clutch basket? I can't find one yet on the whole internet!

 

[Paul.S]

Ive agrued the point that billet simply means a block of any particular material...be it wood, rock, steel, or whatever here and people called me out saying that billet was some sort of "super" grade of aluminum. Show some more close up pics of the casting creases Paul.

I can see no casting creases in the casting. It is a very uniform surface that has texture similar to 150 grit or less sandpaper.

 

[Paul.S]

I went to MTC Engineering's website and they describe their clutch baskets as "heavy duty" and "forged". They do not call them billet. Thank you MTC for being smart/honest!

 

[Guest]

Ive agrued the point that billet simply means a block of any particular material...be it wood, rock, steel, or whatever here and people called me out saying that billet was some sort of "super" grade of aluminum. Show some more close up pics of the casting creases Paul.

True no argument from me on what billet is. That Falicon basket doesn't have and tool marking what so ever that I can see. I would ask for my money back as it seems definitely misleading to me.
[video]http://v.vitalmx.com/8544/untitled--vid-8544--uid-1067--xhd.mp4[/video]

 

[posplayr]

This is from APE, but it also looks cast although CNCed on the outer circumference.

http://gszone.biz/clutches.html

 

[Paul.S]

This is from APE, but it also looks cast although CNCed on the outer circumference.

http://gszone.biz/clutches.html


View attachment 52559

That is exactly like mine. They just cast the peice then put it on a lathe to smooth the outer circumference and the very end of the peice. Btw, it appears nobody even makes a billet GS1100 basket so I have no intentions of getting my money back. This basket should serve me well and besides, what other choice do I have? A forged basket might be stronger that billet anyways. I just thought I would give yall a heads up in case yall were eyeballing one of these fancy "billet" baskets.

 

[Paul.S]

And here we have it folks: "Metallurgists agree that a*forged*piece of*aluminum*is*stronger than*cast or billet. The reason being, when the material is shaped under pressure, its 'grain' follows the same shape as the part. As a result, the product manufactured is*stronger*due to the continuous grain characteristics allowed by the*forging process."

Straight from the google machine! I guess I am happy it is not in fact billet.

 

[chuck hahn]

First pic you posted..right above the rivet and to the right of the N is a line..which is what you'd expect to see from the cast. Thats what I saw and was referring to.