Question about standard 1/2 shafts

[Matt]

Guys

I have a piece of machinery that has broken, and I need to turn up a pin to go inside it...

A minor halfshaft would be a very good start, as the bar has to take a certain amount of torque (its at the end of a ~18" lever), and I have some in the shed! 0Does anyone know if the standard shafts are hardened? (i.e can I machine them down to suit)

[bmcecosse]

Rub it with a file and see if you can make a mark! Half-shafts should be 'tough' not 'hard'. I think it will be an excellent source of good machinable steel - but a broken one would save butchering a perfectly good one !

[Matt]

I found another piece in the end

I have never managed to break a halfshaft so no broken ones yet...