A not so happy saturday

[IbocProSX]

Holy $#$@ that's textbook stuff. And excuse me for bringing this up but are you sure it was 18y olds muck you took off and not 3 weeks old to mask the defect? Looks like you have grounds to go back to the seller, or is it too long since you got it off e-bay?

And I'm no expert on welding either, but like Huntso I do recall that 6061 frames require the post weld heat treatment whereas 7005 alloy is favoured by many as it may be used "as welded". However, do get a pro's advice as there are loads of variations to the 6000 and 7000 series alloys. The devil is always in the detail and repair welding procedures are probably different from the original manufacturing procedures too. F

WIW In my business "welding engineer" is a recognised expertise, it usually comes with donkeys years experience and we don't go second guessing them.

Good luck with the repair

 

[CTK]

Yep- I agree with above- send it back.

 

[guybe]

That's a bummer, hope you didnt pay too much for the frame, maybe it's worth contacting the seller and show the pic, you never know he may give a full refund or part refund, it's worth a try.

Good luck

 

[gump]

That is bad news. The sinking feeling is sooo bad.

I haven't seen any alu Rockys crack before, as you say, they were pretty well built usually :?

 

[MJN]

I'm pretty certain that 7005 alloy is repairable,if you know a decent welder with a TIG set.I'm affraid stainless steel is as far as my welding talents(if you can call it that)stretch.

 

[FluffyChicken]

:shock:

What a load of Bollocks


I'll still measure up the fork decal sizes for you though. Probably be tomorrow now but I can grab a rough sizing.


May be time to call on Rocky Mountain's 'Full Lifetime Warranty'

 

[Crayons]

I did think about contacting the seller but it was quite a long time ago and I really don't think he had any idea of the state it was in. The oily grime was the kind of stuff that tends to stay put for ever (doesn't look like he'd cleaned the thing in years, some of the stuff took an hour soaking with Gunk just to soften it :? )

Anyway, the general consensus seems to be that 7000 series tubing might be repairable so I haven't given up hope completely. There are a few very good engineering places around this part of the world that are connected with the westlands helicopter place in Yeovil. Just need to put the feelers out and see if anyone knows anyone.

I think it might be a bit of a stretch to try the lifetime warranty approach – I like your style though.

At the end of the day, I've always wanted a Stratos, so I'm willing to give it a chance – who knows, perhaps I could get the welder to put a gusset over the weld. Might not look so out of place then. There's nothing that a good gusset can't fix

 

[ChrisG]

Crayons.
I know of a guy who is a bit handy with ally welding, he's ex westlands and based on the trading estate in Crewkerne.

 

[Crayons]

Hiya Chris

Thanks for your post – just in case you see this before the PM, I'd be very interested in talking to your mate about a spot of welding.

Have you managed to get out on the Orange much this year??.

Been thinking of organising some kind of south west meet. Guybe's up for a ride on the Quantocks at some point, you interested?

 

[shovelon]

Sorry to see the crack. But it is easily welded.

7075-T65 is does not require heat treat after weld, only stress relieve if desired, but you can let the frame set for a week to shake out. The manufacturer achieves this during the heat cycle in Powder coat. The reason for this is that most 7000 series alum is heat treated over a long duration in the mill to reach T65, and thus needs a very long time to anneal. The welder, if competent will be in and out of the weld zone in minutes instead of the hours required to anneal.

6061-T6 alloy on the other hand has a very quick anneal cycle, but can still repair welded satisfactorily if welded quickly(allowing the adjoining members to draw-heat sink the heat away thus mimicking a cold quench).

Twas I to do the repair, I would dremel out the crack to 80% the thickness, use a toothbrush with acetone to degrease, make sure that the heated pressurized air has a way to escape. Then attach a to a good bare ground on the frame, weld with 5356 filler(common high strength), and weld in a downward direction. Sometimes the owner will request a second weave weld to pretty up the area, but is cosmetic only.

A gusset is not necessary and would only place a stress riser at a thinner part of the butted tube.

Typical repair time would be about 1 hour. Total cost about of shop rate x 1 hour( 1/2 hour typicaly being minimum charge if you dremel and clean the joint).

Go for it! Battle scars are cool!

Terry