One week into ownership, I find a crack in the frame - left side engine mounting tab
- Thread starter jmardy
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Silverrider
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- Sep 28, 2016
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Keep a close eye on it, take it apart and have it welded. How many miles ? how much did you pay ? Show us a pic of the full bike. Just by looking the the 2 pics the bike looks a little rough ,no offense intended.
Chicknstripn
Well-known member
Check, with an inspection mirror, if the crack goes through to the other side.
Then, where the crack ends, stop drill it with a drill bit about twice the diameter of the crack itself. That should stop it from cracking any further.
Do a quick google search and you’ll find plenty of information on stop drilling.
Since the Buells carry fuel in the frame, we’ll have to insure the frame is totally clear of any and all fuel vapors and residues prior to any weld shop wanting to touching it.
Call around and see what local shops have to say.
Also check flea bay for used frame prices and decide which is the better option.
OR..... If it were my bike, I’d stop drill the crack and monitor it. I’d also stop doing any kind of wheelies or stoppies that might aggravate the condition any further.
Then, where the crack ends, stop drill it with a drill bit about twice the diameter of the crack itself. That should stop it from cracking any further.
Do a quick google search and you’ll find plenty of information on stop drilling.
Since the Buells carry fuel in the frame, we’ll have to insure the frame is totally clear of any and all fuel vapors and residues prior to any weld shop wanting to touching it.
Call around and see what local shops have to say.
Also check flea bay for used frame prices and decide which is the better option.
OR..... If it were my bike, I’d stop drill the crack and monitor it. I’d also stop doing any kind of wheelies or stoppies that might aggravate the condition any further.
Thanks guys. I have a dental mirror around here somewhere.
No offense taken. Yeah, it's pretty dirt. Guy apparently lived down a dirt road. I've spent hours cleaning it but there's still dust everywhere.
Odometer says 5K miles but the more I look the more suspicisious I get of that. The brake pads seem pretty worn for 5K miles.
I traded a $5K enduro/supermoto for it.
Here's a pic:
There's a great guy near me who fixed my failed Aprilia subframe.
No offense taken. Yeah, it's pretty dirt. Guy apparently lived down a dirt road. I've spent hours cleaning it but there's still dust everywhere.
Odometer says 5K miles but the more I look the more suspicisious I get of that. The brake pads seem pretty worn for 5K miles.
I traded a $5K enduro/supermoto for it.
Here's a pic:
There's a great guy near me who fixed my failed Aprilia subframe.
Silverrider
Well-known member
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Full pic , that a nice bike, have it welded , only 5K miles it a fixer and a keeper.
Silverrider
Well-known member
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Park it now ! not safe. Tear it down have it welded.
Chicknstripn
Well-known member
The endoscope pics make it look A LOT worse than your original pics.
Definitely park it.
Save it.
You won’t regret it.
Definitely park it.
Save it.
You won’t regret it.
FYI the Buell fuel/frame is double walled, so welding a small crack on an external tab like that won't blow it up. Just sayin'.
IMO clean, heli-arc, re-paint. Yes, there are better ways too.
IMO clean, heli-arc, re-paint. Yes, there are better ways too.
Just from looking at the pics, it doesn't look like a fatigue crack (a crack from repeated cycles). It looks like a crack from an acute event, such as a high-energy impact or pre-loading of the tab during installation.
It will probably need to be re-heat treated afterwards, but thats probably out of the question at this point. Hopefully the heli-arc holds on it own... I've just seen many rewelded alloy pieces re-crack right around the repaired area if the heat treat is omitted. However, the stuff I deal with is very thin walled.
Fingers crossed! :eagerness:
Yeah, it's weird, I notices some mild scraping on the left side swingarm spool and clutch lever that looked like maybe a 5mph low side. No damage to engine/stator cover (perhaps was replaced?) Rest of bike looks very good.
After talking to some people I've decided to source a good used frame and take my chances with the California DMV "Statement of Construction" process where I'll make my current title "salvage", build a new bike with a new frame, do a DMV dance and a CHP dance, then another DMV dance, then a final CHP dance and finally I should be able to have a complete, whole, registered bike (though probably with a Salvaged title).
I wonder what's going to be a bigger PITA, swapping frames or dealing with DMV and CHP.
After talking to some people I've decided to source a good used frame and take my chances with the California DMV "Statement of Construction" process where I'll make my current title "salvage", build a new bike with a new frame, do a DMV dance and a CHP dance, then another DMV dance, then a final CHP dance and finally I should be able to have a complete, whole, registered bike (though probably with a Salvaged title).
I wonder what's going to be a bigger PITA, swapping frames or dealing with DMV and CHP.
I'd say dealing with DMV and CHP will be way tougher than doing the frame swap. At least on an XB, its not as difficult as expected.
You're probably right. I'm friends with this guy who has built many bikes from stacks of parts and dealt with the DMV and CHP and he convinced me to go for it.
I will certainly document both the mechanical and bureaucratic ordeals.
This is the frame I bought:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FRAME-2009-Buell-1125CR-CHASSIS-373-76/183539354352
It's a California VIN and the serial number is like 800 away from mine.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FRAME-2009-Buell-1125CR-CHASSIS-373-76/183539354352
It's a California VIN and the serial number is like 800 away from mine.
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
This could be a 10 minute repair job but it sounds like it will be a very long, very expensive, very big nightmare
Hey Jmardy, have you shown the pics to a certified welder? Might be worth asking.
Hey Jmardy, have you shown the pics to a certified welder? Might be worth asking.
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This could be a 10 minute repair job but it sounds like it will be a very long, very expensive, very big nightmare
Hey Jmardy, have you shown the pics to a certified welder? Might be worth asking.
Hey Cooter, Yeah, he said he could do it but advised against it so I decided to do the right thing even though the DMV thing is going to be a nightmare.
I am surprised to hear that, looks very simple? But haven't seen it in person so...
Always good to get a second opinion, but you seem committed to dive down that rabbit hole. Seriously good luck. I mean that. I have had a TON of experience at the California DMV with wildly varying outcomes. I would suggest trying to see the same person every single one of the dozen times you'll have to go. Eventually they will tire out and give you what you want:eagerness:
Always good to get a second opinion, but you seem committed to dive down that rabbit hole. Seriously good luck. I mean that. I have had a TON of experience at the California DMV with wildly varying outcomes. I would suggest trying to see the same person every single one of the dozen times you'll have to go. Eventually they will tire out and give you what you want:eagerness:
