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Seeking aluminum welder

DAMN maintenance and repair thread; including Farkle Fests! :boohoo:
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phoo
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Seeking aluminum welder

Post by phoo »

My KTM's kickstand broke at RAC, thankfully (??) before leaving the parking lot. Pricing a replacement has proven expensive so I'd like to just weld the thing back together.

Does anyone know how to weld aluminum or know anyone who does who would be willing to do it for cheap but still make it look decent and have it able to hold my bike up? I've learned my lesson to not stand on the pegs to start the bike like I have to do for the WR.


Thanks,

~Patrick
2003 Triumph Sprint ST :: 2004 Suzuki SV650R
2016 Beta 300RR :: 2006 Suzuki DRZ400SM
1975 Harley FXE1200
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Rut Row
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Re: Seeking aluminum welder

Post by Rut Row »

TIG welding is what you are looking for. I know a guy in Hagerstown who can do it but there is likely someone near you.
Ken
Die young as late as possible, remember who you were before the world told you how it should be. -- Barry Morris
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the dude himself
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Re: Seeking aluminum welder

Post by the dude himself »

I've got a welder and the wire/sleeve for aluminum, but not the specific shielding gas and I haven't welded any aluminum yet. It should be relatively easy from what I've read - we just need something to sleeve the break (internally or externally). You game?
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phoo
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Re: Seeking aluminum welder

Post by phoo »

Aluminum is actually really hard to do and requires practice. Every time I've brought a piece of aluminum to someone who has done aluminum before but is rusty always ends up burning/melting/vaporizing the start of the project until they can get it right again. Unfortunately, this job is too small to go through that "warming up" process.

But if I can't find someone who does aluminum regularly, I'd be happy to provide my parts for you to make an attempt. Worst case is I lose my already broken kickstand. :)


Thanks,

~Patrick
2003 Triumph Sprint ST :: 2004 Suzuki SV650R
2016 Beta 300RR :: 2006 Suzuki DRZ400SM
1975 Harley FXE1200
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phoo
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Re: Seeking aluminum welder

Post by phoo »

I spoke to my shop and the guy mentioned something I hadn't thought of -- the stock part is cast aluminum and really can't be welded well because it'll develop air pockets during the welding process so it'll just break again. Maybe I'll end up buying another kick stand after all. I was thinking I could jam a pipe onto it for length, but the bike is so nice I'd feel bad jury rigging something like that on there.


Thanks,

~Patrick
2003 Triumph Sprint ST :: 2004 Suzuki SV650R
2016 Beta 300RR :: 2006 Suzuki DRZ400SM
1975 Harley FXE1200
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Rut Row
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Re: Seeking aluminum welder

Post by Rut Row »

I assume you tried FleaBay?
Ken
Die young as late as possible, remember who you were before the world told you how it should be. -- Barry Morris
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phoo
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Re: Seeking aluminum welder

Post by phoo »

eBay is where you get the discount price of $100, though last night I did find one for $60+, which is how much the shop was going to charge me to weld it.


~Patrick
2003 Triumph Sprint ST :: 2004 Suzuki SV650R
2016 Beta 300RR :: 2006 Suzuki DRZ400SM
1975 Harley FXE1200
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Boom Boom
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Re: Seeking aluminum welder

Post by Boom Boom »

And a milk crate under the skid plate costs how much?? :amazon:
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phoo
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Re: Seeking aluminum welder

Post by phoo »

I was going to go with that method, but I was having problems bungee cording the kickstand to my bike. :shrug:

I'll admit it. Sometimes finding a tree to lean it against is annoying, but it's especially troublesome when taking photos. :pimp:


~Patrick
2003 Triumph Sprint ST :: 2004 Suzuki SV650R
2016 Beta 300RR :: 2006 Suzuki DRZ400SM
1975 Harley FXE1200
zamobro9
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Re: Seeking aluminum welder

Post by zamobro9 »

where did it break, we use structural adhesive in the automotive field, maybe it would hold?
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