Cracked Roadholder Log

Previously crawford_logan wrote:

I am sure this question has been asked many times - but I don't know the answer. I have stripped my short roadholders. All OK except the lug at the bottom of one slider that is threaded to allow clamping of the axle which has a couple of cracks in it. It is not in bits but the two cracxks are obvious.

I presume it can be welded up and retapped but I know that welding an oil impregnated alloy casting like this needs skill

Can anyone point me at a suitable specialist? I want someone you have used satisfactorally in the past. They might end up doing a rubbish job for me - but that is not your problem

If I was in your position, my first call would be to be mike pemberton,of poor mans manx fame, he speaks good no nonsense common sense, a good starting point !

Previously crawford_logan wrote:

I am sure this question has been asked many times - but I don't know the answer. I have stripped my short roadholders. All OK except the lug at the bottom of one slider that is threaded to allow clamping of the axle which has a couple of cracks in it. It is not in bits but the two cracxks are obvious.

I presume it can be welded up and retapped but I know that welding an oil impregnated alloy casting like this needs skill

Can anyone point me at a suitable specialist? I want someone you have used satisfactorally in the past. They might end up doing a rubbish job for me - but that is not your problem

Had a similar problem bu the piece in question had broken off, went to my local blacksmith who did an absolutely brilliant job, threw the broken bit away and just rebuilt the lug up, left me to just tidy up with a bit of fileing to make an excellent job.

I used a friend who works in the aerospace industry. He said it was awful stuff to weld but has done a good job of mine.

Hi Crawford....As you have experienced, it's not that difficult to crack the casting so you you really need a strong repair. It won't be any good simply making a neat weld around the crack line as the crack might still exist further down inside the surface of the alloy. What needs to be done is that the crack needs to be opened right out in a wide "V" shaped groove and built out with several passes of welding to build it up again. The overall shape can be tidied up with a file easily enough afterwards and buffed up. The actual spindle hole needs to be reamed accurately to be a tightish fit on the spindle even before the bolt is torqued up....and not too hard this time.... Sorry I can't suggest who will do the work correctly but hopefully what I've said above might help you get a sound job done if you stipulate what is required by the welder....

Les

Previously crawford_logan wrote:

Well - I was not progressing much when I remembered the Lumiweld magic stuff I had bought a few years ago.

Marvels of modern technology I looked on Google and there in You Tube was a 35 minute video on how to use Lumiweld to repair a cracked casting.

I bit the bullet, ground the cracks out into a good V shape and repaired them with Lumiweld. It was not too hard, the repairs have filed up quite nicely and it seems pretty solid. Certainly solid enough for me to cut the new thread.

Time will tell - but it seems worth a try!

Hi Crawford,

Just a suggestion before you refit the slider leg. Fit the wheel spindle through the leg whilst it is out of the bike tightening the stud just enough to stop the spindle turning, then measure the gap where the studisand make a shim to fit. When you reassemble the leg fitting the shim willstop you from overtightening. Remember that where the weld is thatis where the leg flexes tohold the spindle.

David.