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Can you weld cracked rims? Can you weld cracked rims?
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

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Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 5 Apr 2008
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Can you weld cracked rims?
I guess its not a good idea but can it be done sorry for the short one not time!!!
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  #2  
Old 5 Apr 2008
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Yes, if your a really good welder.
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Old 7 Apr 2008
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iffy that one. Theoretically yes, provided there was no spoke tension. Warpage and deformity would be the real bug bear here. with that in mind, if you are desperate, I'd rather try this....

Dura Fix Aluminum Welding Aluminum Brazing Aluminum Soldering & Repair Rod
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Old 7 Apr 2008
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Nearly all rims are welded. They start as flat stock and are rolled, cut to size then welded together. If they are cast, you may run into some problems, depending on the quality of the material used. Take it in to a good welding shop and some welding and grinding should fix you up.
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Old 7 Apr 2008
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Reguarding the Dura-fix rod, i would not recomend it for a rim. It doesn't penetrate the base metal well enough to provide a good weld. It's more like glue, or brazing for aluminum if you will. TIG is the way to go for aluminum, but a spool gun (wire feed) will work fine also. BTW, what are you trying to weld?
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Old 8 Apr 2008
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Yes rims can be welded BUT whether or not they SHOULD be depends upon the type of damage sustained .
Assuming the rim is aluminum:
Mr Ron is correct ,AC Tig is the best way to go , Mig maybe would do the job but might not penetrate well enough ,it depends upon the skill of the welder .If the rim is thoroughly prepared and all oxidation removed ,preheated and restrained during welding then there should not be any problem .

Durafix would be a definate no no in my book .
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Old 8 Apr 2008
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Thanks for all your replys guys, this is why I love the hubb! Just heading in to Dae es Salam now to go find some TIG or MIG welding! Yer they are alloy rims off a TT600RE. two cracks about 6/7mm long on the edge of the rim. I know I a good enginer who hopefuly know a good welder!
Thanks again for all you help.
George

Trans-Africa 07/08.
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Old 9 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Ron View Post
Reguarding the Dura-fix rod, i would not recomend it for a rim. It doesn't penetrate the base metal well enough to provide a good weld. It's more like glue, or brazing for aluminum if you will. TIG is the way to go for aluminum, but a spool gun (wire feed) will work fine also. BTW, what are you trying to weld?
You are absolutely right, no argument there. I was refering to filling a crack as a temporary measure to prevent tube pinch etc. I tig weld aluminium on a hobbyist level, and I can assure you, I would not attempt to tig weld the rims in an emergency. For starters, you cannot be sure of what alloy is being used in the rim, and whether it is weldable or not. Secondly, what filler rod to use 5xxx or 4xxx. Thirdly the amperage to weld that thickness of aliminium would be at least in the 150 to 200 Amp mark for penetration. Ali melts at about 800 degree C, the ali oxide at 1300 degree C, dura weld at 380 degree C. Much more room for error. At those tig temps a buckle or deformatity is guarranteed unless the wheel is preheated in a oven and restrained. All in all, this is a specialist job. Not something done in an emergency as a quick fix, as it could very quickly become a quick bin job.
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Old 13 Apr 2008
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how´s it going?
How´s it going with the rim repairs? I have a new 18" rim laying around for my Tenere that I haven´t had time to spoke yet. Im on Zanzibar, so if you are geting no where with your fix and need help send me a Pm.

Tom
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