Question for everyone?

[theothersean]

Lets say for instance that you crashed your motrocycle either a street bike or a dirt bike, and you broke off some stuff that could be welded back together, would you get it welded or just replace it .
Would you trust a welded rear set or be more comfortable with a brand new one
assuming that welding it was cheaper , and more importantly accesable to you. Not saying that you owned the equipment but new someone that could do it for you.
for instance clutch or brake levers, rear sets, tripple tree. sub frame. swing arm spools, stuff like that.
Granted it wouldn't look like a brand new part but it would be rideable ,say on a race bike or dirt bike where looks don't really matter anyway.
just wondering?

[Karaya One]

To me, it would depend on the replacement cost and the skill of the guy welding it.

If I broke a rearset, I would replace it.

If I cracked the frame, I would look for a quality welder.

[PinHead]

It would depend on the part and bike, street vs. dirt. Can't really narrow it down to a yes or no answer.

[Ken]

A bunch of the things that you mentioned can be replaced new for so cheep that trusting a welder is a moot point. Even the more expensive stuff can be e-bayed as a used (but undammage) item. I'd replace instead of repair I guess.

[R7]

Let me guess, you went riding today and cracked up the WR again? Not leah's bike again?

[RandyO]

Sean.. trust a weld if it is properly done, it is just as strong as the original part. I have a customised shifter on my SV for my big feet or rather big boots that I wear. I bought a brand new shifter, took it to a local fabricating shop, had them chop it in half and add 1.75 inches length, I keep the stock original shifter as a spare. I crashed the fiurst one I had made, it broke just like a stock one would, I have about 30k on the one I have now

Oh and looking at my shifter, you can't tell it has been welded, it looks exactly like a stock suzuki sportbike shifter (SV, GSXR etc all take same shifter) except a little longer

he he, I said longer

[R7]

Originally posted by RandyO
he he, I said longer

Randy, have you been drinking again?

[RandyO]

Originally posted by R7
Randy, have you been drinking again?

no, just a slight case of cabin fever, it was mid teens when I went riding today and I think I got frostbite in head

[Dianne]

[Degsy]

I have swingarm spools, stator cover and headstock all re-welded on my racebike and trust all of the welds with my life. No problems so far.

It is hard to find a welder willing to weld aluminum and give you a guarantee.

derek

[Stoneman]

Welding aluminum these days isn't what it was just a few short years ago. The weld itself will be stronger than it was originally. However, the pieces immediately surrounding the weld can get brittle if the welder isn't experienced welding aluminum. The problem with some aluminum pieces are that they're too thin to weld. An inexperienced welder will keep burning right through it. I'd say if you can find someone who REALLY knows what they're doing, it shouldn't be a problem. Just make damn sure they know what they're doing...

Now SPILL IT! What'd you do?

[Rye]

I've personally seen rearsets and levers brake again when welded. This was done by a very experienced welder. I just don't truct those items. On the other hand I have seen subframes last and as good as new...same with spools. I would not screw around with the triple....but that's just me. For the most part alot of those items are inexpensive or make good ebay finds.

[theothersean]

What did I do? well nothing recently, I was just sitting around wondering. I figure that with all the parts that we snap off the dirt bikes I would get popular opinion on the subject.

I happen to work at a shop that has aluminum welders, that do good work. I just didn't know if people would trust a weld or rather a new part.

would you be more inclined to get the part welded in a pinch rather than new, if you would have to wait for the new part to come in off an order but the welding was easier to obtain.
For me out here in the country is just as easy to bring the pieces to work with me rather than go to the dealer to see if it is in stock then, either order from them and wait then go back to pick it up, or order it on line pay shipping and wait for the part to come in.

I guess it comes down to the welder again huh?

[duc106]

I would just tell Leah what he did, tell her your sorry and she will give you the money for the new part

[ChR1s]

I've only had welding done when replacement items were cost prohibitive, i.e., side cases, tabs on swingarms, steel frames on old bikes. Not something that would typically generate a lot of volume.


Sean, what about the restaurant up for sale down the road from you? Get it listed here and give Chooch's some competition.

[Wayne-o]

Well here is a topic I can give some technical advice on. First off if it is an aluminum part you are welding, the heat generated by the weld in the area of the weld puts that area in what is called a solution annealed condition. In other words it has lost it's temper. In order for an aluminum weld to be consistant with the temper it was originally at (i.e. T6) the unit would be welded then the entire unit would be solution annealed then artifically aged to temper the whole unit back to it's original condition. If aluminum is welded and not brought through the proceedure mentioned above the welded area will be a weak point in the structure.

Solution anneal at about 825F for one to two hours at temp then cool to room temp. Artifically age at around 400F for 20 minutes to aquire a T6 temper condition if we are talking about 6061 aluminum.

If more info is needed I will be glad to provide it.

F-Nutz

[SEVENSGT]

Cracked engine case, repaired with JBweld, never leaked again