Cracked frame... advice? SOLUTION page 2

[stopintime]

Black stain, looking like oil/dirt waiting for a good wash - since my and the bike's track highsider last autumn. The crack was hiding behind the stain - now black water pouring/dripping out and a real crack is visible underneath.

I assume this is a weld job waiting  

Complete tear down is not, not at all, tempting at this time.

Advice?
(type of weld, bracing, add a half outer tube, chewing gum, boobies?)

This frame isn't beautiful anymore, so I don't mind painting a part of it after welding.

[Dirty Duc]

I wouldn't call that a crack. It looks more like a puncture, especially with the apparent lack of deformation around the area.

I would consider that part of the frame non-critical and weld/grind to close it up with very little concern. Before that, though, I'd investigate the hole a little more and make sure rust had not set in under the paint.

[ducpainter]

Looks like a rust hole to me...like water had gotten in from above.

[stopintime]

How will a puncture/rust hole, if that's what it is, be handled - compared to a crack?

I have rear frame plugs, but don't know if they're waterproof. Could water come from the neighbour frame members?

[DarkMonster620]

~~~

Advice?
(type of weld, bracing, add a half outer tube, chewing gum, boobies?)

Boobies

[Dirty Duc]

How will a puncture/rust hole, if that's what it is, be handled - compared to a crack?

I have rear frame plugs, but don't know if they're waterproof. Could water come from the neighbour frame members?

Based on my inspection of mine, I would expect the neighbor tubes to share interior space.

If that is rust, would expect it also in the critical frame members that share that engine mount and I would retract my statement about welding being the solution... you have to remove all the cancer and replace frame pieces.

It might be time for a new frame.

[Speeddog]

Is it the one on the tube going up to the left, or the one  just below the weld?

[stopintime]

Is it the one on the tube going up to the left, or the one  just below the weld?

It's the tube going up to the left.

I'll have to check to make sure it's not also below the weld, on the engine mount, but that's hopefully just dirt/rust remains.

[stopintime]

Having it welded next week and listening to what the welder has to say.

Is it required to unplug battery, ECU, instruments?

[ducpainter]

Having it welded next week and listening to what the welder has to say.

Is it required to unplug battery, ECU, instruments?

Disconnect battery, and remove the ground to the ecu if it has a separate one or just unplug it if the ground is in the connector.

[stopintime]

Ok - had it MIG welded and filled the frame with Fluid Film until I heard the long tube 360 nossle bubble in the oil (that stuff sure doesn't smell like christmas).

Don't know if the tube followed/found the correct frame member, but I assume it followed the same path as the water, so....

The frame plug never had an O-ring, so after many years and a few rainy rides I guess water had time to work well. Maybe the frame got a good hit/twist when I crashed and the weakest place was the rusted section.

[stopintime]

Another  


The first weld has been fine - do you think I can expect the same on this?



For a couple of years I've been seeing this hairline paint crack. It hasn't grown, but after 'filling' the frame with the Fluid Film I can see some of it seeping through. (who said it's time for a new frame?)

[Speeddog]

Fark. 

I'm thinking there's other cracks you cannot see.
The Duc frame is quite stiff.
Areas that crack become much more flexible, and thus do not carry as much load, which must then be carried elsewhere.
That increases the load on the 'elsewhere'.
A slippery slope....

It may be more cost-effective in the long run to replace with a good frame.

[stopintime]

Yes, I slowly realize that a new frame is required in the future... It's more a question about when that is. Patching up this one is probably just a delay.

[ducpainter]

Yes, I slowly realize that a new frame is required in the future... It's more a question about when that is. Patching up this one is probably just a delay.

Good money after bad...