I have a cracked pinch joint on the front forks of a motorcycle and I need advice on the possibility of repairing it.
The steel front axle of the wheel is attached to the fork by passing through heavy aluminum castings at the bottom of each fork leg. The bore (about 1 inch diameter) of the castings through which the axle passes are split with pinch bolts that are tightened to help secure the axle in the bore.
These pinch bolts were over tightened and cracked one of the ears that formed one side of the pinch joint. Those ears are about 1/2 in thick. Can this be welded? The resulting repaired ear would need to retain about .030 inch of flex to allow the axle to be removed and then to tighten down to secure it when the axle is re-installed.
Can an aluminum weld be made that will allow some ductility after the weld?
I have read that this is achieved by heat treating and proper selection of welding materials.
Please help.
The steel front axle of the wheel is attached to the fork by passing through heavy aluminum castings at the bottom of each fork leg. The bore (about 1 inch diameter) of the castings through which the axle passes are split with pinch bolts that are tightened to help secure the axle in the bore.
These pinch bolts were over tightened and cracked one of the ears that formed one side of the pinch joint. Those ears are about 1/2 in thick. Can this be welded? The resulting repaired ear would need to retain about .030 inch of flex to allow the axle to be removed and then to tighten down to secure it when the axle is re-installed.
Can an aluminum weld be made that will allow some ductility after the weld?
I have read that this is achieved by heat treating and proper selection of welding materials.
Please help.
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