Curvecrazy
Plastic
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2017
I've got this cast aluminum wheel that cracked at the base of the spoke at the rim. I've done mass research on best way to repair and the more I read the more confused I get.
I see welding as an option. Tig or Mig. My concern is the HAZ zone and end strength and brittleness. Most seem to think this is the way to go but the wheels pretty thin aluminum off high performance motorcycle.
I see alumni Weld or HTS-2000 filler rods as an option. Idea being less heat required and less HAZ concerns.
Third option I see is a good epoxy applied by cleaning out the crack as narrow as possible ( minimal gap), removing AL oxide then applying a good epoxy. As such, I would probably want to apply epoxy on the outer surface of the crack "too" and was considering cleaning surfaces and applying epoxy then fiberglass weave reinforcement and then more epoxy to encapsulate that and extending say a half inch or more to either side the crack on the outside and an inch or more on the inside.
One welder actually told me he'd try epoxy! He was worried about the HAZ using TIG etc. Another says MIG with 4943 wire. He claimed a half inch HAZ at either side the welded area and claims to have done hundreds of AL wheel Weld repairs but never at a spoke?? Another welder said he'd TIG it but claimed a larger HAZ.
Welding and brazing would destroy the finish. Epoxy would not. Interested in anyone's input especially personal experiences and successes failures. All welders are dead against epoxy saying "THAT WON'T WORK". Of course, put in perspective, they would say that right? Not necessarily out of personal experience or bias but simply that many failed JB WELD repairs have been brought to them where the AL Oxide say was not properly removed before attempting the repair? Obviously..those repairs with JB Weld that succeeded the item never made it to the welder so they would have a failure bias would they not?
I see welding as an option. Tig or Mig. My concern is the HAZ zone and end strength and brittleness. Most seem to think this is the way to go but the wheels pretty thin aluminum off high performance motorcycle.
I see alumni Weld or HTS-2000 filler rods as an option. Idea being less heat required and less HAZ concerns.
Third option I see is a good epoxy applied by cleaning out the crack as narrow as possible ( minimal gap), removing AL oxide then applying a good epoxy. As such, I would probably want to apply epoxy on the outer surface of the crack "too" and was considering cleaning surfaces and applying epoxy then fiberglass weave reinforcement and then more epoxy to encapsulate that and extending say a half inch or more to either side the crack on the outside and an inch or more on the inside.
One welder actually told me he'd try epoxy! He was worried about the HAZ using TIG etc. Another says MIG with 4943 wire. He claimed a half inch HAZ at either side the welded area and claims to have done hundreds of AL wheel Weld repairs but never at a spoke?? Another welder said he'd TIG it but claimed a larger HAZ.
Welding and brazing would destroy the finish. Epoxy would not. Interested in anyone's input especially personal experiences and successes failures. All welders are dead against epoxy saying "THAT WON'T WORK". Of course, put in perspective, they would say that right? Not necessarily out of personal experience or bias but simply that many failed JB WELD repairs have been brought to them where the AL Oxide say was not properly removed before attempting the repair? Obviously..those repairs with JB Weld that succeeded the item never made it to the welder so they would have a failure bias would they not?
. Please keep the opinions coming and specific references would be great... 
