Welding an aluminium frame

[Tandemonium 2]

will welding a allu frame where theres is a small crack , by anyway weaken the frame itself .

[Vetseun]

will welding a allu frame where theres is a small crack , by anyway weaken the frame itself .

Possibly. There is a place in Bloem called Weidemans Engineering. They understand how to weld it properly. Incorrect welding is not a safe option.

Let me know if I can assist.

[droo]

If you weld alu you've got to heat treat it afterwards, otherwise it'll just crack again.

[Letum911]

I have had the chainstays on a trials bike welded successfully, after that did many many 1.5m+ drops with no issues.

 

But the welding needs to be done by someone who understands alu and the effect of heat and how to treat the frame.

[Tandemonium 2]

Possibly. There is a place in Bloem called Weidemans Engineering. They understand how to weld it properly. Incorrect welding is not a safe option.

Let me know if I can assist.

Thanks Vetseun (voel weird om iemand so te noem  ) im unfortunately in PE . Did however get hold of a cyclist in PE working at Weldrite , sound like he knows how . Not sure if its just paint or the allu itself . not taking chances on a tandem .

[Shebeen]

had a fellow rider with a huge seatpost crack on his alu bike. Got it done by a local farmer over lunchtime and it lasted till the end of a ride*

 

 

*this was during freedom challenge

**this was in the baviaanskloof, about 1500km into a 2300km ride

***apparently this was pretty much the only place that someone had the skills and equipment to do it, so major luck involved there!

[Paul Ruinaard]

Hmm - a mate had this done to a Gary Fisher on the swingarm - eventually just cracked alongside it, and he gave up.. It depends where the crack is. 

 

Unfortunately it normally cracks in an area that is stressed.....

 

 

Not an easy job with MTB type ally.

 

 

[Mudsimus]

Possibly. There is a place in Bloem called Weidemans Engineering. They understand how to weld it properly. Incorrect welding is not a safe option.

Let me know if I can assist.

They welded an alloy frame for me, probably 12 years ago. It’s still going strong.

[rudi-h]

welded material will never be as strong as it was before the repair, but it can stretch the life of your steed for a while to come if a good job is done.  I had a commencal frame that was cracked 60% through the top-tube and managed to complete a 500km cycle tour after the repair without any signs of re-cracking.  I did get a warrantee replacement after the holiday, so didn't have to ride it until it cracked again.

 

PS as coincidence has it i had that same bike welded in PE before by a local guy that makes trailers.  I was on holiday and needed a bike fixed on 17 December.  Great guy and he did a good job of the welding but I can't remember his name though.

 

Also, make sure that the paint is cleaned away completely at least up until 50mm away from the proposed weld, the fumes coming from burnt paint can enter into the region protected from the atmosphere by the shielding gas and can cause imperfections in the welding.

[Schnoodle]

if your welder knows what he is doing and he uses pulsed welding it should be ok.