Cracked Frame

How about flogging the bits and buying another bike....buyers market now you know.
 
kommando said:
The cause needs fixing first which is over tight iso clearances especially the rear iso.

Fix to frame is either a new frame or removing the cracked frame members and replacing with new sections plus any adjoining parts that suffer when those frame members are removed like 06.1974 and possibly 06.0414.

andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk

The other method would be to put snug fitting bracing tubes inside the cracked tubes and then welding the crack with a deep penetration weld that includes the bracing tube. The penetration weld is made easier by cutting back at the crack and exposing the inner bracing tube. A second cut will be needed up closer to the top bend and the same treatment applied with inner bracing tube. The second cut allows access to the lower crack without resorting to bending the tube and distorting it plus the Houdini antics trying to get the inner brace tube in place. By the time you have done all that you might as well bought the repair parts from AN.

The frame is plain old mild steel, no special welding equipment required other than a competent experienced welder.
Click to expand...
A competent welder is the key. Go to a motorcycle frame shop because any welding on frame tubes make them go any which way. I learned this the hard way.
 
There was a motorcycle frame specialist near Courtice Ontario, that has provisions for Commando frame repairs. I was involved with him through Highway Cycle, who was sending a number of british frame related work. He builds racing frames for people wordwide. My memory is terrible, can'y find the company name.
 
green53 said:
There was a motorcycle frame specialist near Courtice Ontario, that has provisions for Commando frame repairs. I was involved with him through Highway Cycle, who was sending a number of british frame related work. He builds racing frames for people wordwide. My memory is terrible, can'y find the company name.
Click to expand...
A Seeley frame with tanks might not cost much more than perservering with Norton frames. Your friend who builds racing frames might know something. There are always ways and means for improving. Think outside of the square ?
He is the sort of guy you need to talk to. If you go to a raceway, the motorcycle racers usually know where to find a frame builder.
Both Rickman and Seeley frames have tanks , seats and fairings being made for them. If you do not build something which is odd, you can always sell it.
I would like to get hold of a Commando which has your problem. I could make something really nice out of it. In Australia, allowances are made when registering classic motorcycles.
 
Last edited:
I had my frame straightened and repaired by Richard at Wasco Frame Service. He is a Norton guy, but better known for Harley frames, and fair. I stripped my bike to the frame and shipped it in a used bicycle box which you can get free for the asking at any bicycle shop. My frame wasn’t cracked, but needed some alignment after an accident. I considered buying a new frame, but Andover Norton told me I would be better off restoring my original frame. Here is his website: https://www.wascoframe.com/
 
hello......there's a frame builder and repair shop in trenton ont. ,who worked for curtis racing building his frames till he passed away a few years ago. byron cox....cox custom fabrication, he is on facebook...613-921-5505....
 
nine said:
hello......there's a frame builder and repair shop in trenton ont. ,who worked for curtis racing building his frames till he passed away a few years ago. byron cox....cox custom fabrication, he is on facebook...613-921-5505..
Click to expand...
My understanding is that he has found someone who can tig weld the frame but i will pass on your information . Always nice to get a second opinion and Trenton is only just over an hour west of us
 
If it was mine I be clearing everything away where it needs to be welded then brace it then using clamps so there be no way it could move when welding, give the crack a good grind to remove any paint and grind the crack itself, I would weld it up with my small MIG welder with gasless wire which penterates better when welding, tack weld it in different spots before going the full weld, I would have no problems using my MIG welder to repair it, but that's me I use what I have, the frame is only mild steel and the weld will be a lot stronger than the steel after the repair, once repainted no one will ever know its been done.
But then I worked with steel all my working life and have a well equipped workshop for bikes and the pleasure I get repairing things just like that, if welded right it won't crack there again but if it did it won't be where it's been welded.
It's a simple repair once everything is away where it needs to be welded, the welding is the easy job, clearing the area around where it needs to be welded is the hard part, no matter what repairing it you got nothing to lose.

Ashley
 
Everything needs to be stripped off the frame, including the steering head bearings. When you electric weld your motorcycle, you do not know what else is affected apart from the bit where you weld. If the frame rests on the floor, where does the elexctricity go ?

I once looked at a Commando frame with a view to building a second bike, I also looked at a P11 frame - it was better, but not much. A Seeley frame is expensive, but worth the money. - Depends on what you want and need ?
The best welding on frames is bronze with in-line flux. TIG is cooler than MIG but both present problems - how can you heat treat a frame after welding ?
If I was younger and saw a bike with this problem, I might buy it and the Seeley bits and build a racer., as an investment I do not know what a Minnovation bike costs, but it must be a lot.
 
Last edited:
ashman said:
If it was mine I be clearing everything away where it needs to be welded then brace it then using clamps so there be no way it could move when welding, give the crack a good grind to remove any paint and grind the crack itself, I would weld it up with my small MIG welder with gasless wire which penterates better when welding, tack weld it in different spots before going the full weld, I would have no problems using my MIG welder to repair it, but that's me I use what I have, the frame is only mild steel and the weld will be a lot stronger than the steel after the repair, once repainted no one will ever know its been done.
But then I worked with steel all my working life and have a well equipped workshop for bikes and the pleasure I get repairing things just like that, if welded right it won't crack there again but if it did it won't be where it's been welded.
It's a simple repair once everything is away where it needs to be welded, the welding is the easy job, clearing the area around where it needs to be welded is the hard part, no matter what repairing it you got nothing to lose.

Ashley
Click to expand...
I would definitely not use a gasless MIG welder to repair this crack
 
acotrel said:
Everything needs to be stripped off the frame, including the steering head bearings. When you electric weld your motorcycle, you do not know what else is affected apart from the bit where you weld. If the frame rests on the floor, where does the elexctricity go ?

I once looked at a Commando frame with a view to building a second bike, I also looked at a P11 frame - it was better, but not much. A Seeley frame is expensive, but worth the money. - Depends on what you want and need ?
The best welding on frames is bronze with in-line flux. TIG is cooler than MIG but both present problems - how can you heat treat a frame after welding ?
Click to expand...
Tig is not cooler than mig
 
acotrel said:
Everything needs to be stripped off the frame, including the steering head bearings. When you electric weld your motorcycle, you do not know what else is affected apart from the bit where you weld. If the frame rests on the floor, where does the elexctricity go ?

I once looked at a Commando frame with a view to building a second bike, I also looked at a P11 frame - it was better, but not much. A Seeley frame is expensive, but worth the money. - Depends on what you want and need ?
The best welding on frames is bronze with in-line flux. TIG is cooler than MIG but both present problems - how can you heat treat a frame after welding ?
If I was younger and saw a bike with this problem, I might buy it and the Seeley bits and build a racer., as an investment I do not know what a Minnovation bike costs, but it must be a lot.
Click to expand...
For God sake man.....
It's not witchcraft.
You recite fear of your unknown.

Every car, every motorcycle, every aircraft you've ever ridden on relies on welds that hold it all together.
 
Last edited:
acotrel said:
Everything needs to be stripped off the frame, including the steering head bearings. When you electric weld your motorcycle, you do not know what else is affected apart from the bit where you weld. If the frame rests on the floor, where does the elexctricity go ?

I once looked at a Commando frame with a view to building a second bike, I also looked at a P11 frame - it was better, but not much. A Seeley frame is expensive, but worth the money. - Depends on what you want and need ?
The best welding on frames is bronze with in-line flux. TIG is cooler than MIG but both present problems - how can you heat treat a frame after welding ?
If I was younger and saw a bike with this problem, I might buy it and the Seeley bits and build a racer., as an investment I do not know what a Minnovation bike costs, but it must be a lot.
Click to expand...
Stop it, this is silly, just put the ground close to the repair, yes disconnect the battery.
 
baz said:
I would definitely not use a gasless MIG welder to repair this crack
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with gasless welding wire if you know how to weld with it, in fact it will penatrate better than gas wire but I have both for my machine, I use gasless wire all the time as cost of argon/mix is a bit pricey, its as good as using welding sticks if as I say you know how to weld good and clean the welds after just like stick welding.
I used my gasless MIG on a mates Commando frame before painting to weld a side stand mount and to fix a small crack at the front mount, that was about 4 years ago and hasn't had any problems with it the bike has been well ridden for the last 3 years and can't tell where its been fixed.
 
ashman said:
Nothing wrong with gasless welding wire if you know how to weld with it, in fact it will penatrate better than gas wire but I have both for my machine, I use gasless wire all the time as cost of argon/mix is a bit pricey, its as good as using welding sticks if as I say you know how to weld good and clean the welds after just like stick welding.
I used my gasless MIG on a mates Commando frame before painting to weld a side stand mount and to fix a small crack at the front mount, that was about 4 years ago and hasn't had any problems with it the bike has been well ridden for the last 3 years and can't tell where its been fixed.
Click to expand...
Just my opinion
With 47 years of welding experience I would get my old mate to bronze weld it or I would tig weld it
Or I would mig weld it
Or I would arc weld it
I would not use gasless MIG wire to do a structural frame repair
 
I would have no problems at all welding structural frame with gasless MIG wire and I find gasless MIG wire to penetrates the steel better and welds just as good as arc welding, but as I say I use what I have and so far haven't had the need to use gas with my MIG welder and I have done lots of heavy welding jobs with it, I just finish building a heavy duty canopy that will also carry heavy loads on top if needed for the back of my dual cab Land Rover as well a few structural shed frames using my MIG with gasless wire, works better outside than using gas.
But no matter what you use to weld its the penetration that is the most important, the preparation is just as important and knowing how to weld, but when I was working we had endless supply of Argon shield and bigger MIG welders, but for home use my UNIMIG works a treat and has done some big jobs.
 
baz said:
Just my opinion
With 47 years of welding experience I would get my old mate to bronze weld it or I would tig weld it
Or I would mig weld it
Or I would arc weld it
I would not use gasless MIG wire to do a structural frame repair
Click to expand...
If you can make access wheel and mudguard out etc , to get your welding helmet or similar in the back TIG , is the least invasive, has great penatration " it's only going to be 2-3 mm wall , and can be done tidy with no splatter , your most likely to be sanding it off at the front ,leave the rear . Someone mentioned mild steel frame so prep it ,get it in the correct position might be able to ratchet strap it together ( the crack will have ups and downs leave some for locating it to correct position tack it, and give theses bits some prep after , tack it , in 3-4 places , then weld it , no heat treat required .Tig is awesome .my 2c Cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Stand for Frame-off Rebuild
Replies
11
Views
378
SteveA
SteveA
S
Help Required-Rear Hub Rebuild!!
Replies
10
Views
547
Shelby-Right
Shelby-Right
o0norton0o
I learned to steal
2
Replies
20
Views
553
acotrel
acotrel
ashman
Seems a lot on here have different ways of doing thing on their Norton's
2
Replies
25
Views
1,694
sammysnail
sammysnail
K
A couple of problems for unsuspecting norton owners.
2
Replies
24
Views
1,917
Saber
Saber
Back
Top