Bronchole
07-06-2005, 03:54 PM
350X cracked case repair?
New to the board here, but not new to 3 wheelers.
I have a 85 350X that had the frame cracked. I figured this out while tracing down the cause of the puddle of oil under the trike during storage. Cracked thru the vertical frame tube over the foot peg, broke both upper motor mounts (over the head) and there were a few other cracks in the frame elsewhere.
The problem is that when the frame is cracked thru the motor becomes a structural member, aluminum doesn’t like this type of load!
The left/center case (the one with the drain plug in it) is cracked around the motor mount bolt. The crack is very small and is not thru to the edges. It is in the middle of the casting. I only noticed it because I can flex the frame of the trike and see the oil bulge from the crack.
From what I have read at here on a few threads I found when SEARCHING it sounds like I can VERY easily have this case repaired by a competent weld shop. I have already disassembled the case out of the motor and I am looking for any information necessary to have this repair done.
My questions are:
Do I have to remove the couple bearings and the cylinder studs for the weld shop to perform the repair?
What is the best way to clean the oil from the crack and the rest of this case prior to welding? I have come to understand that the cleanliness of the aluminum is key in the success of welding aluminum. I do have access to an ultrasonic cleaner with alcohol in it. The tank is large enough to submerse half of this case at a time.
What is the best way to see the extent of the crack? If it was steel I could do a magnaflux, but I don’t think that’l work on aluminum.
If the crack is indeed not going out to the edge (both ends of the crack end prior to breaking out to the edge of the case) should I drill a small hole at each end of the crack to keep it from progressing prior to having it welded up?
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Dan
New to the board here, but not new to 3 wheelers.
I have a 85 350X that had the frame cracked. I figured this out while tracing down the cause of the puddle of oil under the trike during storage. Cracked thru the vertical frame tube over the foot peg, broke both upper motor mounts (over the head) and there were a few other cracks in the frame elsewhere.
The problem is that when the frame is cracked thru the motor becomes a structural member, aluminum doesn’t like this type of load!
The left/center case (the one with the drain plug in it) is cracked around the motor mount bolt. The crack is very small and is not thru to the edges. It is in the middle of the casting. I only noticed it because I can flex the frame of the trike and see the oil bulge from the crack.
From what I have read at here on a few threads I found when SEARCHING it sounds like I can VERY easily have this case repaired by a competent weld shop. I have already disassembled the case out of the motor and I am looking for any information necessary to have this repair done.
My questions are:
Do I have to remove the couple bearings and the cylinder studs for the weld shop to perform the repair?
What is the best way to clean the oil from the crack and the rest of this case prior to welding? I have come to understand that the cleanliness of the aluminum is key in the success of welding aluminum. I do have access to an ultrasonic cleaner with alcohol in it. The tank is large enough to submerse half of this case at a time.
What is the best way to see the extent of the crack? If it was steel I could do a magnaflux, but I don’t think that’l work on aluminum.
If the crack is indeed not going out to the edge (both ends of the crack end prior to breaking out to the edge of the case) should I drill a small hole at each end of the crack to keep it from progressing prior to having it welded up?
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Dan