15-16 Yamaha frame cracks...

yamadog43
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yamadog43
Edited Date/Time 5/27/2018 4:41pm


Anybody else notice any cracks on they're frames I heard this has happened to a ton of bikes every 3 out of 4. Starting to make me want to turn away from Yamaha.
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jeffro503
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jeffro503 11/15/2015 11:10am
11/15/2015 11:10am
This is the first one I've seen and there are a bunch of guys on here that ride them. 3 out of 4 bikes crack their frames? Where are you getting these numbers from? Is there another website around reporting all these cracked frames? Post a link for us maybe?
yamadog43
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yamadog43 11/15/2015 11:14am
11/15/2015 11:14am
jeffro503 wrote:
This is the first one I've seen and there are a bunch of guys on here that ride them. 3 out of 4 bikes crack their...
This is the first one I've seen and there are a bunch of guys on here that ride them. 3 out of 4 bikes crack their frames? Where are you getting these numbers from? Is there another website around reporting all these cracked frames? Post a link for us maybe?
http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/1151500-just-a-reminder-check-frame-we…
philG
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philG 11/15/2015 12:13pm
11/15/2015 12:13pm
This looks like a Solidification Crack

TWI Solidification Cracking



This is our 2014 250 frame, looks the same apart from the crack , obviously.

Definately not good , needs a proper destructive test to assess the weld properties.

Underground 11/15/2015 12:46pm
11/15/2015 12:46pm
philG wrote:
This looks like a Solidification Crack [url=http://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/job-knowledge/defects-solidification-cracking-044/]TWI Solidification Cracking[/url] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/11/15/111440/s1200_yamframe.jpg[/img] This is our 2014 250 frame, looks the same apart from the crack , obviously. Definately...
This looks like a Solidification Crack

TWI Solidification Cracking



This is our 2014 250 frame, looks the same apart from the crack , obviously.

Definately not good , needs a proper destructive test to assess the weld properties.

Incorrect depth to width ratio. Not enough peno.
p.s. I'd be having a closer look at that radiator mount too.

The Shop

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rutsmash
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rutsmash 11/15/2015 1:11pm
11/15/2015 1:11pm
And 14s...14 YZ450F. I tried Yamaha for help but they said no.

racerx217
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racerx217 11/15/2015 1:22pm
11/15/2015 1:22pm
Anyone ever look at the weld quality of the lower engine mounts? My 15 has one i think ignition side that is all jacked up, dealer wont do anything says its normal. I dont think its normal but it is like how all the ones he had on the floor looked.
philG
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philG 11/15/2015 1:33pm
11/15/2015 1:33pm
Th thing is,if you got a proper NIST approved lab to do a proper report on it, they can argue all they want , but it doesnt alter the fact its a manufacturing fault..

I will log on to TWI site at work tomorrow and see what i can dig up, and see what our weld guys think.
smoothies862
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smoothies862 11/15/2015 2:31pm
11/15/2015 2:31pm
i glanced at my 15 with 25 hrs. looked ok. i look closer this week when i tear it down some.
DownSouth
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DownSouth 11/15/2015 2:32pm
11/15/2015 2:32pm
I would imagine these frames are all robot welded which should take out the human error. What is the problem? Poor quality aluminum alloys or bad heat treating of the frames after they are welded?
colintrax
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colintrax 11/15/2015 2:39pm
11/15/2015 2:39pm
DownSouth wrote:
I would imagine these frames are all robot welded which should take out the human error. What is the problem? Poor quality aluminum alloys or bad...
I would imagine these frames are all robot welded which should take out the human error. What is the problem? Poor quality aluminum alloys or bad heat treating of the frames after they are welded?
Piss poor robot welders lol
Lightning78
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Lightning78 11/15/2015 2:45pm
11/15/2015 2:45pm
KTM is proven that the steel frame is good and very capable of handling things of the top level I don't know what some is Japanese many factors refused if it switched back to the steel chromoly frame especially in yamahas case with the welding problems this is this is been an ongoing thing for a while I realize steel frames can crack as well but given the Yamaha design with the reversed intake, a steel frame with much smaller rails and diameters would fit really well and Slim the bike down a lot!!

Honestly I kind of think it's only a matter time for at least one manufacture switches back to the steel chromoly frame don't want to benefits to him including the perfect amount of flex
DownSouth
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DownSouth 11/15/2015 2:49pm
11/15/2015 2:49pm Edited Date/Time 11/15/2015 2:50pm
DownSouth wrote:
I would imagine these frames are all robot welded which should take out the human error. What is the problem? Poor quality aluminum alloys or bad...
I would imagine these frames are all robot welded which should take out the human error. What is the problem? Poor quality aluminum alloys or bad heat treating of the frames after they are welded?
colintrax wrote:
Piss poor robot welders lol
Maybe.

With all the durability testing they do you would think it would not be a design flaw with the frame because that should have shown up during testing and would have been dealt with before the bikes went to the assembly line.
Underground 11/15/2015 2:52pm
11/15/2015 2:52pm
DownSouth wrote:
I would imagine these frames are all robot welded which should take out the human error. What is the problem? Poor quality aluminum alloys or bad...
I would imagine these frames are all robot welded which should take out the human error. What is the problem? Poor quality aluminum alloys or bad heat treating of the frames after they are welded?
A human still has to program the machine and set it up. Robots are just more consistent, faster and cheaper on repetitive jobs like these. And even then, there may be slight variation, such as how the individual components of the frame are cast and set up in the jig varying the distance from the arc which affects things like penetration into the parent metal.
deltadestroyer11 11/15/2015 2:53pm
11/15/2015 2:53pm
Damn, this is scary. I'm definitely going over my Honda's frame with a fine tooth comb while I'm prepping and freshening it up.
philG
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philG 11/15/2015 2:57pm
11/15/2015 2:57pm
We are doing robot welding trials just now, titanium aero stuff, the human element is the ability to feel the weld as it goes along .

You could program a robot to paint a picture , but it will never look the same twice.

You can robot weld cheap stuff, simple welds , till the cows come home and never have an issue , but the more intricate the materials , and length of the weld, the easier it is to have problems.
nascarnate326 11/15/2015 3:09pm
11/15/2015 3:09pm
I would be pissed if my $8000 bikes frame only made it 15-20 hours before cracking.
coastlinecascott 11/15/2015 3:32pm
11/15/2015 3:32pm
DownSouth wrote:
I would imagine these frames are all robot welded which should take out the human error. What is the problem? Poor quality aluminum alloys or bad...
I would imagine these frames are all robot welded which should take out the human error. What is the problem? Poor quality aluminum alloys or bad heat treating of the frames after they are welded?
colintrax wrote:
Piss poor robot welders lol
8 year old chinese robot welders

Pit Row

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yamadog43
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yamadog43 11/15/2015 4:07pm
11/15/2015 4:07pm
Looks like I'm getting rid of my 15 for a Honda or Ktm
kiwifan
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kiwifan 11/15/2015 5:11pm
11/15/2015 5:11pm
I am surprised by this, I never knew the frames were prone to cracking, never seen this on other aluminium framed bikes unless severely abused (likely to happen to any frame in that scenario). I hope for Yamaha owners that this isn't very common (I suspect it isn't common at all) otherwise its one damn dangerous bike to ride.
aedwards07
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aedwards07 11/15/2015 5:12pm
11/15/2015 5:12pm
I cracked my 15 crf450 frame too. There's a thread here about it. But Honda is standing behind it and I take it to the dealer tomorrow for a new frame.
yamadog43
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yamadog43 11/15/2015 5:54pm
11/15/2015 5:54pm
kiwifan wrote:
I am surprised by this, I never knew the frames were prone to cracking, never seen this on other aluminium framed bikes unless severely abused (likely...
I am surprised by this, I never knew the frames were prone to cracking, never seen this on other aluminium framed bikes unless severely abused (likely to happen to any frame in that scenario). I hope for Yamaha owners that this isn't very common (I suspect it isn't common at all) otherwise its one damn dangerous bike to ride.
It looks like it's happening in the same spot and to a lot especially in low hours on the frame that's what scares me the most. I'm thinking about just going to my Ktm dealer and trading mine in.
c0ncEpT
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c0ncEpT 11/15/2015 7:36pm
11/15/2015 7:36pm
Just checked my 16 and at 10 hours it doesn't show any signs of cracking.
snape99
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snape99 11/15/2015 7:42pm
11/15/2015 7:42pm
I'd better check my frame
Lightning78
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Lightning78 11/15/2015 8:28pm
11/15/2015 8:28pm
The 2 strokes had a pretty consistent cracking problem in the same area
Richard Tease II 11/16/2015 1:57am
11/16/2015 1:57am
GeorgiePorgie wrote:
Frames shouldn't be breaking at the welds.
Your right but there is a whole industry dedicated to finding cracking in welds (NDT) so it's quiet common but in bikes thank god you don't hear it much
2WheelsForTheMasses 11/16/2015 7:41am
11/16/2015 7:41am
This has been a known issue...definitely a geometry issue. Yamaha needs to get back onto the computer and get back to their bombproof designs.
mag23
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mag23 11/16/2015 8:56am
11/16/2015 8:56am
yamadog43 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/11/15/111428/s1200_image.jpg[/img] Anybody else notice any cracks on they're frames I heard this has happened to a ton of bikes every 3 out of 4. Starting to...


Anybody else notice any cracks on they're frames I heard this has happened to a ton of bikes every 3 out of 4. Starting to make me want to turn away from Yamaha.
Our '16 450 did the exact same thing in the same spot... very low hours, @ 9-10. Another guy had a '16 crack in the same spot after @20 hours, Yamaha replaced the frame, and the new frame cracked after 4 hours. Another guy cracked his '15 250, another guy cracked his '15 450, all on the same weld. There is no coincidence, the weld is bad...
Titan1
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Titan1 11/16/2015 9:27am
11/16/2015 9:27am Edited Date/Time 11/17/2015 1:00pm
This is a really hard year to buy a bike...

KTM- Crappy 4cs forks, expensive
Kawi- Air forks
Honda- Slow, air forks, dual exhaust, the CR450 doesn't make a good off road bike
Suzuki- Heavy, dated, air forks, the RM450 doesn't a make great off road bike
yamaha- Frame cracks

Pick your poison I guess...

I was fully decided on a new 15 or 16 YZ450 (though the KX is still very much a possibility if I came across a killer deal), then I see stuff like this and it makes me 2nd guess the Yamaha. Why couldn't the KX have the YZ forks on it? And why couldn't Yamaha just have good frames. LOL

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