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About the ridgidity, you could model the existing frame into an FEM analysis and project forces displacements. When you subject similar displacements you get different values. That could be a way of trying to analyse frame ridgidity.
Your points are valid about the heat treatment, but I have yet to think that far ahead. I have plans to get with our inhouse weld engineer and bounce some ideas off him to see what steps need to be taken. I'm hopeful he will be able to show some information that would prove heat treatment would not be necessary because I would have to outsource that to a nearby heat treat facility.
Am I putting too much research into this project? I find it hard to believe others are going through so much.
I worked it over with naval jelly and steel wool and then ran a stainless steel wire brush over it to make it look as stock as I could.
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Then I found banned 500 riders and found a group of dudes who are cool as fuck and excellent craftsman as well. Plus you can talk technical stuff with them and they are on the same page.
You go to Baja ever? We are going there this sunday for the open ride.
About your remark about putting to much research in it, you can never put to much research in it. The more you know about it the better and safer your bike can become. Besides you will learn a great deal which you can use in future projects.
What I would do:
0 Literature study about different alloys, fillers, heat treatments and their effects when combined
1 Analyse the original frame material to determine the alloy
2 Design your new frame
3 Ask some expert advice to have a look at your findings
4 Weld it using the proper filler and material
5 Heat treatment
Aluminum frames are over rated. Especially frankenstein frames with dangerous stress points.
i personally think the last RM250 is the best handling two stroke ever made. carmichaels 05 SX bike.
tough call to make. but i can say that the 08+ cr450 frame is better than the 91 CR500 frame, regardless of the material. slimmer, lighter...
Even Goose was saying how much longer these Aluminum frames last over the steel counterpart.
Cast aluminum forgings are cheaper and easier to manufacture like premixed said. However some of the other equipment costs more, like bending the extrusions. That is a whole another beast when it somes to bending aluminum vs. steel. Plus welding it in a factory setting requires much tighter part fit as well. You still can see where they do alot of manual re-work on these frames due to the MIG weld not being able to fill a gap or some undercut.
I would love to get to Baja this weekend, but I'm moving to Alberta to work in the oil patch at the end of month. I just won't have the time. Sure loved that track when I saw it at the Baja Brawl though. I will be home for 10 days every month however, so I WILL be getting there next year for sure. We will hook up for a ride for sure.
Pit Row
If you want to see some dangerous mechanical issues, pick a race on any given sunday and go look at what the C class riders are working with.
I don't moto anymore though, only off road.
would you consider buying a new frame to give it that "Refreshed" feeling??
my 03 rm125 and 04 rm250 were the best turning bikes ive had and i want to get another but im intrigued by those saying their steel frames are cracking/strressing
does this happen only with heavy or extremely fast riders?
if i picked up a 04 rm250 that was ridden here and there and moto'd on it for the next year or two (im a C rider) would the frame start to stress?
do any of you AF conversion guys see any stress after a few months of moto?
Did my 500 conversion myself. There's a lot of guys out there who think they are the only ones out there who can build these things. If I can do it, anyone! can do it.
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