Pete,
I am a wee bit puzzled by the selection of stainless steel for the
replacement parts.  Common stainless alloys such as 304 are equivalent
in yield strength to common structural aluminum alloys 6061-T6, 2024-T3
etc. Stainless is also notorious for galling.  (Try screwing a #8
stainless screw in and out of a nut plate 15 times in row).  There is
the potential corrosion benefit, greater % elongation at failure and the
machined stainless produces a really nice looking finish.  It seems to
me a structural alloy steel, even without heat treating, would be the
way to go if strength was the concern.  Do you know what alloy is used
in the original over center links and what alloy stainless was used in
your new parts?  What was the number of the SB you mentioned?
Chris



Chris Zavatson
N91CZ
360std
www.N91CZ.com