[RaMoore]

We have tried the homebrew hardening technique and this is looking promising as at least an improvement.

How we hardened/quenched the material:
Used two propane torches to get the steel to a red hot level (approx. 550 deg. C) and then submerged in oil (motor oil in this case). The oil rapidly cools the metal (better than water) and makes a bunch of smoke (burning oil?). The metal is submerged until cool enough to almost handle. If quenched in a small volume of oil, change oil to cool oil for next cycle. The material is then reheated to glowing red hot and then re-submerged. Process was repeated three times and then tested.

Testing procedure:
motor was clamped down and half of a torque coupling was placed on the end (two jaw, pictured). A c-clamp was clamped onto the table in between the two jaw teeth and gave approximately 90 deg. of travel before locking up. The motor was then powered 100 times back and forth into full stall. Motor shaft rotates 90 degrees and then is slammed into stall when the jaws lock up. (This really isn't good on the motor nor the trans. but that's what we want right?) The test was performed in 20 cycle intervals (since the leads got to hot to hold) until 100 cycles were achieved. Pending results show little distortion in the cut aways (pictured). Future tests are pending.