Welding an Aluminum Frame ?

Hallzilla
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Hallzilla
Edited Date/Time 11/13/2012 11:36am
Hey Guys
I landed as square as you can on someone's bike. Luckily I'm ok. It was the biggest jump on the track and the bike was on the crest of the landing.
Anyway one of the spars under the motor is bent and damaged and there is a small hole. Can i repair this ? I know the frames are heat treated, but does this mean i cannot add a couple beads ? It's right near the footpeg, near the welds where the spar joins the main frame

AJ ?

08 crf450

Thanks in advance.
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Hallzilla
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Hallzilla 11/7/2012 9:14am
11/7/2012 9:14am
I think it could be fixed with a couple of added beads, Not looking for perfection.
171motocross 11/7/2012 9:34am
11/7/2012 9:34am
Hallzilla wrote:
Hey Guys I landed as square as you can on someone's bike. Luckily I'm ok. It was the biggest jump on the track and the bike...
Hey Guys
I landed as square as you can on someone's bike. Luckily I'm ok. It was the biggest jump on the track and the bike was on the crest of the landing.
Anyway one of the spars under the motor is bent and damaged and there is a small hole. Can i repair this ? I know the frames are heat treated, but does this mean i cannot add a couple beads ? It's right near the footpeg, near the welds where the spar joins the main frame

AJ ?

08 crf450

Thanks in advance.
If your going to be welding on aluminum you better have a tig welder. Mig/Arc will burn a hole right through it haha.
CamP
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CamP 11/7/2012 10:01am
11/7/2012 10:01am
If you want it done right, go to the nearest Honda dealership and find out who does their recall welding on Goldwing frames.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 11/7/2012 10:25am
11/7/2012 10:25am
Johnny Campbell's brother, Jamie...has a Company called RaceCo...he's welded up sooooo many Hondas that he's got it DOWN!

Raceco USA
Unit #145 27324 Camino Capistrano
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

(949) 874-5591

The Shop

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JackLHyde
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JackLHyde 11/7/2012 11:17am
11/7/2012 11:17am
TeamGreen wrote:
Johnny Campbell's brother, Jamie...has a Company called RaceCo...he's welded up sooooo many Hondas that he's got it DOWN! Raceco USA Unit #145 27324 Camino Capistrano Laguna...
Johnny Campbell's brother, Jamie...has a Company called RaceCo...he's welded up sooooo many Hondas that he's got it DOWN!

Raceco USA
Unit #145 27324 Camino Capistrano
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

(949) 874-5591
That might be your go-to guy. He should know the composition of the material used, which is the starting point of every welding process. Aluminum is AC TIG welded, the welds are contrary to carbon steel welds weaker then the base material, so extra gusseting may be required.

Your (almost) IWE
dirthead1
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dirthead1 11/7/2012 11:35am
11/7/2012 11:35am
As that area is NOT structural, I wouldn't worry too much about that area and how well it is fixed.
zlowery
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zlowery 11/7/2012 12:07pm
11/7/2012 12:07pm
1. I did some hard casing on my 2010 CRF450 as soon as I got it and before I could get a skid plate. I put dents and cracks in the bottom of the frame. Rode it a year and a half with zero issues.

2. I have welded a CRF250 frame with the cast front intersect piece cracked (near the top of the head). I measured the bolt holes with a FARO arm before I welded it. Ground the crack til I got all the way through, tig welded it back up. Held the same dimensions through the whole process.

Putting a cover pass without grinding the crack all the way out with Mig or Tig does nothing for strength. Because your crack is already started, the stress concentration will open it back up asap. And of course, someone knowing what they are doing with tig is key. Dontt over heat it.
rrdecals
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rrdecals 11/7/2012 12:12pm
11/7/2012 12:12pm
contact Chuck at Metal Tech over in Elsinore. He does a lot of the stuff for factory guys and shortens subframes and the like.
zlowery
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zlowery 11/7/2012 12:13pm
11/7/2012 12:13pm
Also, I dont think the frames are "heat treated". They might be baked for stress relieving, which is why you dont wanna Mig it and heat it up too much.
Hallzilla
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Hallzilla 11/7/2012 1:57pm
11/7/2012 1:57pm
Many thanks for everyones input. Great advice.
TheNewOriginal 11/7/2012 2:07pm
11/7/2012 2:07pm Edited Date/Time 11/7/2012 2:13pm
Hallzilla wrote:
Hey Guys I landed as square as you can on someone's bike. Luckily I'm ok. It was the biggest jump on the track and the bike...
Hey Guys
I landed as square as you can on someone's bike. Luckily I'm ok. It was the biggest jump on the track and the bike was on the crest of the landing.
Anyway one of the spars under the motor is bent and damaged and there is a small hole. Can i repair this ? I know the frames are heat treated, but does this mean i cannot add a couple beads ? It's right near the footpeg, near the welds where the spar joins the main frame

AJ ?

08 crf450

Thanks in advance.
171motocross wrote:
If your going to be welding on aluminum you better have a tig welder. Mig/Arc will burn a hole right through it haha.
Not true, we have built over 1000 aluminum boats during the past thirty years using mig..
austin.wampler 11/7/2012 3:13pm
11/7/2012 3:13pm
Got my subframe welded after a bad wreck last season and its held up just fine.
Sprew
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Sprew 11/7/2012 6:00pm
11/7/2012 6:00pm
Hallzilla wrote:
Hey Guys I landed as square as you can on someone's bike. Luckily I'm ok. It was the biggest jump on the track and the bike...
Hey Guys
I landed as square as you can on someone's bike. Luckily I'm ok. It was the biggest jump on the track and the bike was on the crest of the landing.
Anyway one of the spars under the motor is bent and damaged and there is a small hole. Can i repair this ? I know the frames are heat treated, but does this mean i cannot add a couple beads ? It's right near the footpeg, near the welds where the spar joins the main frame

AJ ?

08 crf450

Thanks in advance.
me thinks no one on here has a clue.
Markopolo400
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Markopolo400 11/7/2012 6:47pm
11/7/2012 6:47pm
Do not weld it without heat treating it afterwards. Weld aluminum and it's about as hard as butter.
171motocross 11/7/2012 7:11pm
11/7/2012 7:11pm
Hallzilla wrote:
Hey Guys I landed as square as you can on someone's bike. Luckily I'm ok. It was the biggest jump on the track and the bike...
Hey Guys
I landed as square as you can on someone's bike. Luckily I'm ok. It was the biggest jump on the track and the bike was on the crest of the landing.
Anyway one of the spars under the motor is bent and damaged and there is a small hole. Can i repair this ? I know the frames are heat treated, but does this mean i cannot add a couple beads ? It's right near the footpeg, near the welds where the spar joins the main frame

AJ ?

08 crf450

Thanks in advance.
171motocross wrote:
If your going to be welding on aluminum you better have a tig welder. Mig/Arc will burn a hole right through it haha.
TheNewOriginal wrote:
Not true, we have built over 1000 aluminum boats during the past thirty years using mig..
you must be using short circuit then?
tireguy111
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tireguy111 11/7/2012 7:34pm
11/7/2012 7:34pm
Tha new frames are 7000 series aluminum. They anneal themselves after welding. Just let it sit by itself for a day and you will be good to go. Got that tip from an ex Honda factory mechanic (now retired).
Erick
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Erick 11/8/2012 3:03am
11/8/2012 3:03am
I would be very careful from who you take advice from.

What I would suggest is contact Honda and ask them for advice. Maybe contact Service Honda.
Markopolo400
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Markopolo400 11/13/2012 11:36am
11/13/2012 11:36am
tireguy111 wrote:
Tha new frames are 7000 series aluminum. They anneal themselves after welding. Just let it sit by itself for a day and you will be good...
Tha new frames are 7000 series aluminum. They anneal themselves after welding. Just let it sit by itself for a day and you will be good to go. Got that tip from an ex Honda factory mechanic (now retired).
LAWLZ you have got to be kidding me

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