To weld or not to weld *bike tech inside*

[junior80]

so i'm putting my trials bike back together and I find this:






should I have it welded? I don't know what kind of alluminium it is so can't help there.

I could have it filled so there's more metal there to make it stronger. But, will the heat from the welding process weaken what's left?

the grove was cut my some very lose sprocket bolts at some stage. (certainly not since i bought it)

[chimpboy]

Can it be welded and also have some extra strength added on the outside eg some alloy "ribbing"?

Definitely not my thing, I am just wondering. It looks like it's already started to crack at the weak spot.

[coxy321]

Don't stress - i would just leave it, but if you give your bike a real hammering, just get it welded/filled.

About two years ago i rode 60km with a few loose sprocket bolts. I actually thought i'd bent the brake disc or had something jammed in the spokes because the feeling i was very abrupt and jerky. I put up with it for a while because it was a timed event.

I eventually stopped to find i had lost 3 bolts, had two just hanging in there (no nuts), and one bolt doing its job. I had carved a nice 10-15mm groove into my swingarm - luckily there is a weld/join in that spot or it would have snapped off for sure.

I had it filled/welded, and haven't had an issue with it since.

[v840]

Ben at Extreme Creations in Brookvale could weld/strengthen it for you no worries.

[bogged]

for the $50 to get it fixed, I'd do it.