Tank Slap - Motorcycle Forum

Anyone ever had a go at this?

I have just been quoted £120+vat for a local welder to come out and weld the paddock stand bobbin lug/thread back on to the swingarm.....Seems a bit steep if you ask me.

Doing a bit of digging and found this Sealey No-gas mig welder on amazon for £105.

Reading the reviews it would seem the machine is more than capable of doing what I need it to, so it just comes to the question, can I do what I need to.

Watching vids on youtube and it doesn't seem too tricky.

Just wondering if any of you chaps have had a go at it?

Swingarms are generally made of aluminium based alloys, any weld process to repair that will need a gas shield or the weld will be brittle, porous and possibly oxidised (very weak). If you do have an ally swingarm I'd suggest TIG welding - it's far more precise than Mig welding in my limited experience.

Steel swingarms can be repaired using mig easily, but you will still get a weak weld if the weld pool isn't protected from oxidation, either by gas or a flux that hardens over the molten pool but chips off when cool.

P.S. The above are based on my limited experience as an engineer, but I don't profess to be an expert on welding technology, but fwiw I'd remove the swingarm and get an expert to do the repair, even though I could probably do it myself, welders take tests to ensure their ability, I don't.

Welding is an art. I know it seems expensive but that's peace of mind and if it does fail you've got a avenue for recourse.

Lol. Just typed up what Kwacky and Deegee said, but they beat me too the post button!

Thanks for the responses chaps, looks like I'll just have to pay the man who knows what he's doing!

Kwacky wrote:Welding is an art. I know it seems expensive but that's peace of mind and if it does fail you've got a avenue for recourse.

on the above and great technical advice from Deegee

Thats expensive were abouts are you rob ??? i have an engineer friend who is an excellent welder welds anything and is cheap compared to that

You think that's expensive....The chap emailed back today and said it may be closer to £200+vat #

Spoke to another local bloke who charges £35 an hour which is a bit more reasonable.

I'm in Billericay, Essex. Where is your mate located?

Barnsley :-( which is a long way

Just a wee bit too far I guess!

Rob mate I'm a welder by trade, what Swingarm is it, ive done adam sheltons zx10r this year, does it still need sorting