I am no metallurgist... Aluminum Question.

[NwRider]

To use a band-aid or not? I came down hard on my bars and bent my crossroads plate and pulled out the threads. I am starting to think the reason this happened may be because the dash was welded near the handle bar mount (made the aluminum weak or more malleable?). I have a new plate/dash but need to fab a different headlamp bracket. The sun is going to be out for a couple days and I want to ride ASAP.

I could drill out the threads and use a longer bolt with a nut and fender washer but would need gently bend the plate straight (in the photo you can see the end rolled down a bit).

My question is... am I retarded for even considering this... last thing I want is my bar to snap off while riding. The inner bolt takes most the pressure and the plate is not bent there.. just stripped out threads.

Your thoughts? Would you trust it?

 

[DustyXB]

I would bend it and put a larger bolt with a more machine thread and re tap it to accept the larger screws... then put some weight on it and test it out.

 

[NwRider]

I thought about re-tapping it but I would have to enlarge the holes in the bars too. I dont want to do that because I need to re-use those bars on my new dash/plate. It seems to me if I just drilled it out and ran a nut and a flat washer that would be stronger than the threads. I had even considered using longer bolts threaded through the new plate with nuts and washers for added strength.

 

[toolmaker98]

You could also redrill and tap it for a heilcoil insert. It will use the same thread and bolt as before. The threads will be just like new. My question is how thick is the aluminum where it is bent? Yes there will be a weaken of the alumiun where it ia bent.

 

[NwRider]

I believe it is 7/16 maybe... The new one is way beefier. I drilled em out, ran nuts on the backside... Bounced up and down on them... Rode 4 hrs yesterday no prob.. going for another ride today... Band aid is decent and will be fixed correctly when I replace it.

The outer threads didn't pull out but the hole was stretched a little.

Got some good riding in yesterday and about to go after it again today.

I was impressed with a friends cb550 cafe racer yesterday. He was pushing the hell outa that thing in the turns. Think I want a lil cafe bike to play on now.

 

[NwRider]

I gotta share this too... My friend has not done more than maintenance to that 550 since he got it... Always ran a little shitty. After we stopped for lunch it was back firing and gurgling... After the last loud BANG... It came alive and is running better than it ever has... Good gremlins? Back fire cleared out the carbs? Whatever happened he is a happy bastard!

Happy Easter guys.