broken frame??

[cokeman]

The 81h I just picked up has a split in the bottom of the frame on both sides. It looks like someone did this on purpose. The split looks like a bulge thats runs along the frame. Both sides are the same, aprox 1 inch long and like I said looks like a bulge. Is this normal and if not how to go about fixing it? It is not cracked aroung the frame just along it at the bulge?

Darrell

[mason79]

the super guys wil need pictures of the problem

[blue giant]

Darrel,

Any chance water has gotten into the frame and froze at some point?

JAT

Paul

[ClarkGriswald]

I have the identical thing on one side.. I definatly agree. Water gets in the frame and freezes just like a water pipe. Also if it sets outside in the winter (like mine did) when snow builds up around something it can fill it up when it melts.. (if there is an entrance). Baffled me at first too but then It hit me that it was bulged "out". Not much more that can do that.

[cokeman]

The water thing was my thought also. The question is now is it worth getting it repaired or should I part out the bike. The engine is shot, bent rod,broken piston,jugs. I have a 78 engine complete sitting on the floor but I know nothing about it, except it turns over freely. I have taken the original engine apart and everything inside looks good. No wear on the gears, clutch is good, lots of good parts. The 81 nmeeds quite a bit of cosmetic work.signal lights,headlight,tires,seat has a 2"tear in it,plastic cowl on the seat is broken. Does have good guages(look like new), TCI and pickup coils are good. Tank is in excellent condition, just a few minor dings and scratches. Exhaust looks like it came from a special, it is in fairly good shape except it has been welded on the right side under the heat sheild. It has the same numbers on the mufflers that are on my 79 special. Such a dilema, what to do????

Darrell

[psycoreefer]

It would be good to have a picture or better description of where the problem is. If its just a bulge I wouldn't worry about it to much. If its cracked as well then I'd consider having it welded up again. Maybe we should all drill a little drain hole to let the water out.

[trbig]

If you're worried about the integrity of the frame, you could get a few inch long piece of pipe the same diam as the frame, cut it in half length-wise and have a piece of that welded on the top side of the frame to give it a double wall in that area. Paint it up black and go on. I wouldn't even worry about the crack. It seems that this is the natural low spot on your frame for moisture to gather, and it has provided you with a couple convenient drains to prevent this from happening again.


Tod

[ClarkGriswald]

Im plannin on cleaning up my crack/bulge with a grinder and welding it.. I dont think the engine would let the frame get too far away from it.. Its mild steel so should be able to weld it and not have any probs. I figured only sealing up the crack wouldnt effect the rest of the surrounding pipe much.

[trbig]

If you seal it up, you may end up with the same problem unless you know for a fact that you won't have the bike in any freezing situations. Also, even if it isn't and moisture gets in there and can't get out, you could get some rust issues in a hurry.

Tod

[XSPastor]

Im plannin on cleaning up my crack/bulge with a grinder and welding it

I'm biting my tounge...

[ClarkGriswald]

I almost said slit instead of crack trying to avoid that ..

Yeah I wont be having that bike "IN" the snow or winter again, that came from the past years that its been sitting out doors exposed. Yep the rust thing always bothers me.. I hate box section frames on vehicles for that reason too. Make a box but dont drill it full of holes mabye hahha.. But often like on my jeeps the front around the engine/crossmember is boxed then the rest C. Partly for flexing. But I hate that its hard to maintain the inside part.. Im havin the same dilema on my CB750 frame, Im stripping it and theres one gusset/bracket that has a weep hole built in but its not at the bottom, DUH. Only thing I can think of is to get some por-15 inside there somehow but ya know how hard it can be.. On the Xs I was thinking mabye before welding up the hole Id try a spray can of 3M extend (rust converter stuff). It smells pretty acidic so ya know its etchin and converting well. But in a spray can, might be able to blast a cloud up in there hehhe.. at least get the stuff near the bottom.

Anyone ever hear of these places with a giant oven that can bake entire vehicles or steel and it comes out rust free?? .. friend of mine keeps telling me about it but it seems kinda extreme, but he says they used to take tons of metal window frames, stack em up and they literally cooked all the old paint/rust and anything else right off em.. He recalled seeing antique car bodies at the place that had been cooked to bare steel. Just thought Id ask since were talkin bout frame resto. Supposedly this place is in Grand Rapids, mabye yall up there have heard of it.

[psycoreefer]

If you find out what that place is, or even what street its on, I'd like to know. I could cruise around the area to locate it. I was looking at having a classic car I'm working on "dipped" but the only place I could find that does it is over in detroit, and for a whole uni-body car its costly.

They take the whole thing and dip it in a vat of *something* that removes all the paint/primer/rust/bondo ect. They even warn that any extremely thin areas of solid metal may develop small holes. Then they dip it in a series of rinse baths to flush the stuff out of any cracks. Then they bake it to dry everything. After all of that they dip in an electrostatic primer so every surface gets coated, then bake dry again. Very cool if you want the ultimate in restoration and future protection.

[Ken Talbot]

A few guys have run into this problem in the past. Check out a few of their tales from this thread

and this thread .

[ClarkGriswald]

Aye thats some good info, mine is on the right tube under the engine it is definatly from frozen breakage (you should see the roads here in the spring). When I was racin the banshee I got used to lookin for and weldin up cracks after a while. If anyones familiar with the pro track at Red Bud, hehe.. you know that sky jump and the rocks on it heheh.. I shortened the swingarm on it a few times till I had it balanced like a 250R with banshee power. I could do the entire night track there in 3rd gear (except the start/straight). Seems the mild steel of motorcycle frames is fairly forgiving, flexible and you can get away with welding on it or straightening pieces if need be.. with exception of the left footpeg on my XS>. bent down somewhat.. not gonna try straightening cast.

edit.. oh yeah phsycho , I see my buddy about every few weeks when he stops by in between work.. Ill ask him where it is, he works around GR a lot on a tree crew now. If its still there it would be worth lookin into, I have a CB frame sittin here about 2/3 bare but sure would like to nuke it with electrolysis.. this baking would solve the hydrogen embrittlement problem and give me an awesome platform to start off with some POR-15. sorry bout other brand bike mention. hehe.

[cokeman]

I have decided to part out the 81. Anybody need parts?

Darrell