Weld advice for cracked carrier

[dntemp_ca]

A couple welds have cracked on my topcase / backrest / carrier frame. I've had it arc welded a couple times, but it keeps on failing. I guess it doesn't help when I go pickup a 24 of beer and put it in the topcase but it fits perfectly in there
I'm no metalurgist but could the weld techniques be incompatible? Are those things brazed or silver soldered maybe? Comments?

[motoman]

Problem being surrounding metal is weakened when welded.

[natemoen]

Yup. When you weld the metal around it get weaker. If you looked close at the welds you would see that its always right next to the previous weld that it cracks!

[crazy steve]

Are you actually using an arc welder? If so, you might try using a MIG welder as they put less heat into the metal. You might also try some sort of heat-treating. Some others may chime in on this, or you may ask around at a machine/fab shop.

'78E original owner

[DGXSER]

Metal verus rod type? With arc welding you have the rod material being introduced and it should if not has to match the metal being welded. JAT.

[soccer4m]

repair

What would work is to put a small insert either inside the broken tubing about 2 inches longer on each side and then weld, or on the outside. Contact member- 3Phase, he did exactly that and it is holding up with a lot of luggage no problem. The insert reinforces the weak tubing and just weld it up, arc or mig, good luck, Mike in Sun Diego

[3Phase]

I think Dennis has problems with the carrier/rack itself breaking. I had to get the bike frame welded just ahead of the mount brackets when the rear frame ends broke off from carrying too much weight on the luggage rack.

I'm not a welder so I took the frame to a pro and had it fixed; he used a TIG welder. He put chome/moly pipe inside the break then welded the broken frame ends to the new pipe, not to each other, then filled the gap. It should work for a broken carrier if the metal's good enough to weld and a common pipe will fit over or inside of the broken tubes.

[dntemp_ca]

Thanks for the advice, people. I took he carrier off yesterday and found that it's cracked on both sides between the two mounting holes. I might be further ahead to cut it off at the cracks and insert a rod or tube then weld that in there. I'll look for a competent welder and in the meantime, I'll have to use the truck to run for beer.

[fredintoon]

For the serious beer drinker.

Thanks for the advice, people. I took he carrier off yesterday and found that it's cracked on both sides between the two mounting holes. I might be further ahead to cut it off at the cracks and insert a rod or tube then weld that in there. I'll look for a competent welder and in the meantime, I'll have to use the truck to run for beer.

Hi Dennis,
FWIW, my sidecar will hold fourteen 12-packs with the tonneau snapped down.
But to fix your carrier, besides inserting tubes at the failure points, think about adding gusset plates as well.
This will allow longer lengths of weld at those joints.
Remember the amateur welder's mantra:-
Length replaces strength.

[natemoen]

FWIW, my sidecar will hold fourteen 12-packs with the tonneau snapped down.

That is impressive! and also the fact the you know that it can hold 14

[fredintoon]

That is impressive! and also the fact the you know that it can hold 14

Hi Nate,
lest you think me a lush, the 14 12-packs were my son's empties that he'd amassed over time and was "too busy" to return himself.
My pal Stan was a lush, though. His ambition was to have a complete 1/2-ton full of empties to return to the recycling depot where they'd give you the full 5 cents a bottle rather than the 4 cents at the beer store.
He finally did it. A month later the liquor board put the refund price up to 10 cents a bottle.
You ever seen a grown man cry?

[webbcraft2150]

If you talking about the tubular part of the rack, mine did the same thing on my 80g. I found some steel rod that would fit in the tube, inserted it into the tube so it would extend into both pieces and had it welded up. Been 'bout 12 years now and still holding strong. The chrome got screwed up but I covered that with some black tape and it looks ok. Not perfect but it has held up to much abuse and repeated overloading. A 15" wheel and tire strapped to your rack does has an "adverse" effect on handling.

[xs11jack]

Fred

Actually, if you add your capacity to the 14 in the side car, what is your total then?? 20?
Ole "burp" Jack

[fredintoon]

Actually, if you add your capacity to the 14 in the side car, what is your total then?? 20?
Ole "burp" Jack

Hi Jack,
if you check my previous post, it says I was returning empties.
What with my poor vision, short attention span and general lack of riding skills I am a hazard even when I'm sober so I absolutely DO NOT drink and drive and nor should anyone else.