Author Topic: Cracked Frame ! (Read 16217 times)

Jack Leis · **on:** August 26, 2012, 06:47:44 pm

I just finished working on my bike, to my suprise I found the bottom rear motor mount weld on the right side is cracking at the chase where the bolt goes through the frame. I can open and close the crack by just pushing up and down on the foot peg. Crap ! i want to ride it but the dealer isn't open until Tuesday morning. I would think it could be welded back up at the shop. CHECK YOUR WELD'S GUY'S !

Maturin · **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2012, 08:40:58 pm

Sorry to hear about your hard luck, but thanks for the warning. It´s probably smart to have a look over the frame whenever you look over all nuts & bolts to be tight.
Considering the welding of the crack: to fry things together is no problem, but before that you´d have to remove the coating. If you don´t you have to scratch away the burned rests afterwards. A partial repair of plastic coating is not possible, you have to fresh up by using paint, wich actually is botch.
If the bike is still under warranty I´d say that the dealer should do it right and renew the plastic coating completely, or replace the frame with a new one.
Of course that probably will take some time. But patching coating with paint...dunno.
Anyway, good luck. Hope you´ll find some helpfull folks at your garage. Best regards
Maturin

Fogrunner · **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2012, 08:57:16 pm

Considering the lack of full penetration on some of the welds I've seen on my bike, I'm not at all surprised at the cracks you have experienced. At least the frame welding on my bike is good, it's just the fender supports at the rear that look a bit suspicious!! Good luck with the repairs or replacement, which ever route you take.

Jack Leis · **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2012, 11:46:29 pm

Thanks Guys ! I'll see how it goes Tuesday when the dealer opens.

Bulletman · **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2012, 07:41:26 am

Hop you get that resolved at the dealer Jack. Could you please post some pictures if possible? That would be much appreciated.

BRADEY · **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2012, 08:01:27 am

If you are covered under warranty go for replacement !

Jack Leis · **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2012, 07:48:52 pm

Quote from: Bulletman on August 27, 2012, 07:41:26 am

Hop you get that resolved at the dealer Jack. Could you please post some pictures if possible? That would be much appreciated.

I can understand your curiosity Bulletman, it's 100 plus degrees in my garage right now and besides, it's kind of hard to photograph a black frame with a black crack ! I'll pass.

Bulletman · **Reply #7 on:** August 27, 2012, 08:07:47 pm

Quote from: Jack Leis on August 27, 2012, 07:48:52 pm

I can understand your curiosity Bulletman, it's 100 plus degrees in my garage right now and besides, it's kind of hard to photograph a black frame with a black crack ! I'll pass.

I completely understand, no worries.

gremlin · **Reply #8 on:** August 27, 2012, 08:44:16 pm

Quote from: Jack Leis on August 27, 2012, 07:48:52 pm

......... it's kind of hard to photograph a black frame with a black crack.........

White Crayon.

barenekd · **Reply #9 on:** August 27, 2012, 09:52:22 pm

Hot there, too, huh? It was 96 here, but I did tackle the nonfunctioning lights. The fuse/fuse holder failed. I couldn't get the fuse out and broke it trying. The link was still good, but the end was disconnected. I don't know whether it happened while I was trying to get it out, or previously, Anyway, the smoke wasn't getting through. Had to go to Radio Shack to get a new one. Think putting a 15A fuse in a 10A holder could have anything to do with it? I put a 10 amp in this time.
Bare

Jack Leis · **Reply #10 on:** August 27, 2012, 09:57:25 pm

Live and learn I guess ! Glad you fixed it Bare. Cant wait for our next ride !

Jack Leis · **Reply #11 on:** August 28, 2012, 07:38:16 pm

Here is a picture of the frame fracture for the inquisitive . I took my bike into my dealer this morning. He took some pictures of it to send to Royal Enfield and that's about where I stand for now. If they tell him to weld it, Art the owner is going to send it out to be welded after he preps it. On the brighter side, he gave me a 2012 bare bones Triumph Bonneville demo bike to use with 215 miles on it in the mean time. Cant beat that ! Thank you Doug Douglas Motorcycles !

Maturin · **Reply #12 on:** August 28, 2012, 07:53:19 pm

Holy s***! I thought the weldseam itself was cracked through, but its the frame tube! How can that happen? Certainly its not by accident that it is broken directly beneath the weldseam. Was the welding done with too much temperature or is it simply sagged at a weak point? Anyone knowing a thing or two about welding?

TWinOKC · **Reply #13 on:** August 28, 2012, 07:54:25 pm

Quote from: Jack Leis on August 28, 2012, 07:38:16 pm

On the brighter side, he gave me a 2012 bare bones Triumph Bonneville demo bike to use with 215 miles on it in the mean time. Cant beat that ! Thank you Doug Douglas Motorcycles !

Jack,

Glad the dealer is working with you to fix your bike.

Sorry about you having to ride the Bonnie but I would like to hear what you think about the Triumph. Is it a T100 or the other one with the mag wheels?

Terry

Jack Leis · **Reply #14 on:** August 28, 2012, 07:58:27 pm

Quote from: TWinOKC on August 28, 2012, 07:54:25 pm

Jack,

Glad the dealer is working with you to fix your bike.

Sorry about you having to ride the Bonnie but I would like to hear what you think about the Triumph. Is it a T100 or the other one with the mag wheels?

Terry

It's the one with the mags. The BASIC model I would guess. 865 cc's and goes like hell after riding the G5 !

The_Rigger · **Reply #15 on:** August 28, 2012, 08:44:27 pm

Quote from: Maturin on August 28, 2012, 07:53:19 pm

Was the welding done with too much temperature or is it simply sagged at a weak point? Anyone knowing a thing or two about welding?

Sounds like the welding temperature was hot enough to begin the hardening process, and if the weldor at the factory quenched the hot frame with water, it could cause the steel tubing to become very hard and brittle. There is a critical temperature that, if exceeded, one would be better off letting the steel air-cool, or oil-quench, rather than water-quench.
The cure would be to temper or anneal the welded frame; heating it up to just below this critical temperature, and let it air-cool, to releave internal stresses in the frame tubes, and to change the crystalline structure of the steel to one that is not as brittle.

Not fun.

Arizoni · **Reply #16 on:** August 28, 2012, 08:55:56 pm

The break looks like something that can be rewelded without a problem but IMO the repair weld should be a full penetration weld with some build up on the outer surface.
Preferably it should be done with a TIG or MIG torch rather than an old fashioned arc welder.

The_Rigger · **Reply #17 on:** August 29, 2012, 06:51:11 pm

Quote from: Arizoni on August 28, 2012, 08:55:56 pm

Preferably it should be done with a TIG or MIG torch rather than an old fashioned arc welder.

+1

I'd MIG weld it; I don't think the crack merits the extra costs and set-up hassles of TIG welding, and MIG will give more than adequate penetration. It will require some fancy dancing with a small grinding wheel or Dremel bit to properly prep it, in any case...

Definitely beyond the ken of a stick welder.

Fogrunner · **Reply #18 on:** August 29, 2012, 07:54:23 pm

+1
I agree, MIG is the way to go.

barenekd · **Reply #19 on:** August 29, 2012, 09:16:01 pm

WOW! That frame ain't cracked, it's broken!
Didn't realize it was that bad!
I thought it was just cracked part way around. I guess we weren't going for a ride this week!
Bare

Jack Leis · **Reply #20 on:** August 29, 2012, 09:40:21 pm

We can still ride Bare, I have the Triumph demo loaner. Took it up to Wrightwood this morning, did the ton on it , 110 actually, I sure miss my Enfield though.

barenekd · **Reply #21 on:** August 29, 2012, 10:14:06 pm

Quote

We can still ride Bare, I have the Triumph demo loaner. Took it up to Wrightwood this morning, did the ton on it , 110 actually, I sure miss my Enfield though.

Yeah, and you'd be trying to make me go that fast! Oh, those Triumph speedos run 10% fast!
I know who not to ride with!
Bare

Jack Leis · **Reply #22 on:** August 29, 2012, 10:21:43 pm

Thats why I took it to 110 !

Jack Leis · **Reply #23 on:** August 30, 2012, 09:00:09 pm

I just dropped in on the dealer to check on the status of my bike and found it on a bike trailer ready to go to the welder. Art did a great job prepping it, told me he is having it TIG welded and it should be ready to be ridden home tomorrow. Cant wait to have her back !

john hut · **Reply #24 on:** August 30, 2012, 10:08:13 pm

TIG welding is more controlable than MIG and is more likley to be done by somebody who knows what he is doing,,anyone can MIG weld it does not take much skill,but to argon weld takes a bit of thought,
Retired Welder John...

longstrokeclassic · **Reply #25 on:** August 30, 2012, 11:33:42 pm

You can easily recalibrate the digital speedo on the later Bonneville's to run very accurately should you wish to do so,
simply by using the same computer Freeware that you use to reprogram the ECU for a few extra ponies

How do you find the handling compares to your own bike?

ric.

Jack Leis · **Reply #26 on:** August 31, 2012, 01:38:23 am

At first I didn't care for the Bonneville. It just felt too strange because of all the miles Ive ridden Enfield. Of course the motor impressed me but the seat was like sitting on an ironing board and the pegs seemed too high and set back. Today I took it on an 80 mile round trip to see my ailing 89 year old Dad and the bike felt a bit more likable. The gas mileage sucks, maybe 40 to 45 miles per gallon but understandable because of the horsepower. I just started to get use to it when the dealer called and told me my Enfield is all welded up and put back together so I had to give it back. The Triumph was OK, it just didn't have the character and soul that the Enfield does. It's great to have it back !

Arizoni · **Reply #27 on:** August 31, 2012, 01:57:59 am

"...The Triumph was OK, it just didn't have the character and soul that the Enfield does...."

That and the "ironing board" seat are a perfect summation of my thoughts after riding a new Bonny.

Buying one isn't a problem for me but they are definitely lacking a personality.

Jack Leis · **Reply #28 on:** August 31, 2012, 02:03:26 am

Jim, + 1 ! and GO DODGER'S

Ducati Scotty · **Reply #29 on:** August 31, 2012, 02:38:08 am

Glad your RE is back together.

To be fair to all other bikes, how can you compete with the character of an RE? It's like trying to taste how sweet fresh corn is after you just ate a bunch of honey. The corn is plenty sweet, just nowhere near as sweet as the honey.

Scott

Tri750 · **Reply #30 on:** August 31, 2012, 03:21:36 am

I don't much care for honey. I get localized reactions to bee stings so I'm mad at bees. So, I'm anti honey. I do like corn tho.

Jack Leis · **Reply #31 on:** August 31, 2012, 03:24:15 am

I hear ya Scotty. Character, soul, charisma are words only an Enfield enthusiast would understand when you rev it up and hear that big thump and dive into a turn. Almost like poetry. These bikes are great ! I dont need alot of horsepower. Just get her up to speed , hang on and use the body english. I would'nt have it any other way.

longstrokeclassic · **Reply #32 on:** August 31, 2012, 12:04:25 pm

Must be good to have your favourite bike back - I've known that Enfield Reunited feeling myself after waiting quite a few weeks for Watsonian Squire to sort out as ElectraX big end failure.

barenekd · **Reply #33 on:** August 31, 2012, 07:52:54 pm

Now for some decent weather to ride in! Next week fo' sho'
Bare

Jack Leis · **Reply #34 on:** August 31, 2012, 08:23:35 pm

Quote from: barenekd on August 31, 2012, 07:52:54 pm

Now for some decent weather to ride in! Next week fo' sho'
Bare

+ 1 !!!

Bulletman · **Reply #35 on:** August 31, 2012, 11:03:45 pm

Quote from: Ducati Scotty on August 31, 2012, 02:38:08 am

Glad your RE is back together.

To be fair to all other bikes, how can you compete with the character of an RE? It's like trying to taste how sweet fresh corn is after you just ate a bunch of honey. The corn is plenty sweet, just nowhere near as sweet as the honey.

Scott

Hear Hear......