Posts: 9
Joined: 9/2/2018
Location: HUN
Edited Date/Time:
Hello all,
Today bike maintenance I found a crack on my frame (year 2017 sx-f)... for sure contact with factory via dealer in progress, but until frame replacement I start to think about repairing.
To diagnose the exact material composition is no problem, but the strenght of welding is an other topic...
Any opinion, experience about repair similar crack on dirt bike frame?
Posts: 3623
Joined: 4/3/2013
Location: Benton, LA USA
That is not a crack, but rather a break. I would not suggest attempting to fix it, but rather replace the frame.
Paw Paw
Posts: 6747
Joined: 11/30/2013
Location: Portland/Los Angeles, CA USA
Paw Paw 271 wrote:That is not a crack, but rather a break. I would not suggest attempting to fix it, but rather replace the frame.
Paw Paw
Agreed with Paw, That’s Big man. My engine hanger cracked so it was rewelded. I wouldn’t mess around with a head tube crack like that.
Posts: 2301
Joined: 3/18/2016
Location: CA, USA
Edited Date/Time:
WOW ! As mentioned by Paw. I would also highly recommend against repairing it since the break is at a crucial structural point.
Speak softly and carry a big stick.
Posts: 3891
Joined: 3/21/2014
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY USA
Posts: 5849
Joined: 1/31/2018
Location: Mansfield, OH USA
Posts: 1621
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Warren, OH USA
I'm a steel fabricator and welder by trade..all different alloys, 27 years experience. I concur with PawPaw and the other posters. Do not attempt to fix it. The big concern is creating a brittle zone where the weld is. It'll be in a place the design doesn't account for.
Many thanks to everyone helping me out this GNCC season: SRT Offroad, Acerbis, FCR Suspension, O'Neal Racing, Evans Waterless Coolants, Rekluse, Twin Air, Braking Brakes, Carbsport
Profile image credit Ken Hill Photography
Posts: 3862
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: TN, USA
You can't just weld the crack and fix it because it's probably cracked under the gusset. We have a guy here that builds stock car frames that could repair it, but it would require grinding off the gusset welding up the head tube and making a new gusset that wraps around the front more like the 19s. Unless you have someone like that could basically build you a frame if needed, I would replace it with a new one.
Take it to the limit, one more time!
Posts: 3062
Joined: 6/28/2014
Location: AUS
Buy some Lottery Tickets - your good luck might just be still around.
You are a lucky man in your bad luck - in that the front end hasn't come clean off. That's a break, with considerable separation, that will almost certainly be through to the tubing underneath the gusset.
It could be repaired, and safely, by the right fabricator, but if you've a chance at Warranty, leave it alone and wait for your new frame.
Posts: 1621
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Warren, OH USA
Rather ironic that I mentioned making the material brittle in a place where it isn't accounted for...since that crack appears to have started right in the heat affected zone at the toeline of the weld. Further, seeing that separation leads me to think that the steering head is no longer correctly aligned with the rest of the frame.
Many thanks to everyone helping me out this GNCC season: SRT Offroad, Acerbis, FCR Suspension, O'Neal Racing, Evans Waterless Coolants, Rekluse, Twin Air, Braking Brakes, Carbsport
Profile image credit Ken Hill Photography
Posts: 794
Joined: 7/21/2016
Location: Houston-ish, TX USA
Posts: 9
Joined: 9/2/2018
Location: HUN
Thank you the advices guys, I am really appreciate it.
53hours in the bike, no crash, no any high impact, no other parts damaged...I just notice the "crack" after washing.
Posts: 1908
Joined: 6/3/2018
Location: Bennett, CO USA
Beginning to think KTM frames are becoming wear items... Glad you caught it before disaster. 53 hours is nothing.
vomiting equals disqualification.
Posts: 5849
Joined: 1/31/2018
Location: Mansfield, OH USA
