First of all, to get this out there, I'm a cheap son of a bitch. A few months ago I cracked my swingarm in half casing a jump. I TIG welded a repair on it and inspect before each ride. So far its held strong considering how hard ive been riding lately. I cracked my rear rim last weekend and I'm thinking of doing a similar temporary repair until i can find a set of excels for cheap. I guess the question is...How safe is this and will it hold for a couiple weeks of riding?
TIG welding on a cracked rim??
- Thread starter shatsac
- Start date
B
biglou
Cheap is good. Unsafe and dangerous is not. I'd relace it with a new rim. Don't risk taking yourself out indefinitely-or worse-peramently. Think about it...
The swing arm was welded at the factory, and therefore the material was likely selected for it's weldable properties. The rim is either extruded and welded at the ends (not likely), or spin formed, like an aluminum pot. If you can't find a weld seam on the rim, I wouldn't bet on being able to weld it. Spin forming is like cold rolling, it imparts a level of work hardening. Welding defeats the work hardening, causing a weak spot.
I'd find a used rim.
I'd find a used rim.
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My son had a cracked rim on his bike this summer and when I asked about welding it our mechanic said a definitive no! First thing he did when the wheel was off the bike to relace the new excel rim was cut the old rim in half so there would be no temptation.
- Jan 8, 2000
- 3,331
- 1
You have a clear choice...
1) welded rim with a potential ride to the hospital costing thousands of dollars, not to mention lost income, or
2) a relaced rim that will set you back about $100 and a evening of work.
Which is the best choice for the true cheep s-o-b?
1) welded rim with a potential ride to the hospital costing thousands of dollars, not to mention lost income, or
2) a relaced rim that will set you back about $100 and a evening of work.
Which is the best choice for the true cheep s-o-b?
