Cracked Frame // need photos inside head set

[How2]

Hello

I have a crack on the frame in need of welding - see photos

Does anyone have pictures of the inside of the frame, where the side tubes meet the main steering tube?

If there is a cavity between those 2 parts, disassembly will be needed. Hopefully these areas are separate, which would same me a lot of time.

Detailed shots would be appreciated

Thanks

H2






CRACK - HAWK.jpg



CRACK LOCATION.jpg

[rpcraft]

I doubt you need to dissasemble it. Usually to repair something like that it is just a matter of grinding out the beginning of the crack all the way to the end and as deep as you can detect the crack until you can clean out all the remnants of it and then tig weld it. You will probably have to do multiple passes and it's probably never going to look pretty again. The spar meets the neck there just like any frame would. It's not a joint that protrudes through into the neck but more like a butt joint overall. I'd be curious what life the bike lived that caused a crack like that. It must have been in some kind of impact. I had a Hawk one time that had a frame spar crack on the back of the spar but it had been fixed before I purchased it (and not very well looking back). If you really want to look inside take the front forks and triple trees off and it is right there to see. You probably are going to need to look into having it placed in a jig to fix properly anyways. You might just want to start looking for a replacement frame to be honest, it might be cheaper unless you are able to build your own and do all the grinding and welding. There is one on ebay right now that with shipping is about 235 USD but looks like you would have to claim a salvage title on it.

[6]

Unless it was a race bike, id ride it. haha

Like Rob said, i think a pass with a tig welder should do it. I disagree with the outcome, a good welder and it will look just fine. DIY by a guy like me, and it will look like hell.

You may end up cooking some of the bearing grease in the steering head bearings, but i would do that on the bike and save a boat load of time. Grind it out and fill it in, or just make a pass right over it if you can get the inside of the crack clean.

[Tripleman]

Take it to a good welding shop, tank off, battery disconnected, lay it on its side, v out the weld with a burr. Weld her up,it will be fine. Make sure the guy is a good alloy welder or birdshit will be the result.

[How2]

I am looking for photos

[rpcraft]

I didn't mean to imply the weld would not look good, my apologies, just it may never look "original" and the nice clear finish over it will more than likely tarnish over some time, even with some decent 2K clear on it. I think it's just due to the porosity of the aluminum during the welding process and I think the fact that they are joining a cast aluminum piece. I have no idea how Honda did the finish on the aluminum frame parts but maybe I will go dig through youtube and see if there is anything abou tit. Its really an amazing finish so long as you do a little preventative wash and wax on it, do not scratch through it or some chemical process doesn't etch through it (somehow).

[Tripleman]

With age all frames become more subject to showing signs of stress, wether tube or beam( bit like people really),and has as been said before cars to beam is a tricky place. But a good man with a tig can make an acceptable job of that.

[rpcraft]

One of our fellow forum members was kind enough to forward me a good picture of the inside of the neck where it meets the frame. Hope this helps.

image.png345100666_3602366123328989_3192888870896267754_n.jpg

[6]

I didn't mean to imply the weld would not look good, my apologies, just it may never look "original" ).

That I agree with 100% unless you do bother sides and get them to match haha.

[ParcNHawk]

One of our fellow forum members was kind enough to forward me a good picture of the inside of the neck where it meets the frame. Hope this helps.

Aww... OP was looking for something that really shows the inside. Like a cutaway.