Coming apart at the seam

[murph the surfMember]

Anybody had a rim split at the seam??
Was about to change my young fella’s rear tyre when I noticed a crack that apears to run accross the rim.
It is so straight that it looks like the joining seam is coming apart.
Is there an easy and cheap fix for this problem? (ie can they be welded?)
I remember having an old DT 175 that had so much rust in the rim that the bike shop refused to put a new tyre on for safety reasons.
Even though this is an alloy rim, I’m thinking the bike shop could still refuse to fit a new tyre.
Would feel happier to have it fixed anyway
Crack is amost half way through :ohmy:
Cheers
Murph

[GregMember]

Yeah seen it before a few times Murph, actually Krusty’s front had a crack before the Camerons ride. Had it welded, nice job but I think I heard him say its cracked again :ohmy:

What brand of rim is it? Its the KTM200 rim yeah??

TB

[ChrisMember]

replace it mate… Had a hairline crack in front rim on the DRZ.. As TB stated, I had it welded and ground back but that area is now thinner and the crack is re-appearing.. I’m now looking for a new front rim…

[murph the surfMember]

Yeah its 200KTM rear TB
Has got D.I.D stamped into the rim
Bit worried to take it to work as our boilermaker doesn’t do much alloy welding

Thats not good news Krusty
Cheers

[GregMember]

DID are OK, take it and try it Murph got nothing to lose mate. Try a good alloy welder maybe cost 20 or 30 bucks worth the try I reckon
If that fails buy a rim cheap enough and easy to lace, although get a spoke spanner and some possums piss (WD40) and start making sure all the nipples are free or gently free them up

TB

[anthony tramontanoMember]

i had my front rim crack at the seam
i had it welded and it strated to crack again after about 3 months of racing
had it welded agian and bought a complete wheel (talon hub sm pro rim) and still have the welded wheel for a spare and have used i four times since and is still ok but no it will crack again

tramo

[murph the surfMember]

Thanks all
Will try the weld first (silly not to)
Cheers
Murph

[anthony tramontanoMember]

when you get it fixed make sure they have done alloy rims before as tig welding can over heat the ally and warp the rim

tramo

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

The alloy rim will have been hardened after forming so any welding will create a soft spot because you will have annealed it making it the weak spot. Thats why it will crack again unless you can get it heat treated back to the correct temper which would likely cost as much as a new rim.

[Matt BakerMember]

My front rim has been cracked for a year or so, I just don’t worry about it. I don’t think the crack is getting any worse.

[Rod WalkerMember]

Both the front and rear rims on my old KTM are cracked. They haven’t spread and don’t affect the light riding it does.

I have two brand new rims to go on to it but just don’t have the room in my shed at the moment to have the bike pulled apart.

I got my new rims pretty cheap off EBAY. I can find the link if you want it?

[mikeMember]

Hi Murgh
My Mate with the XR650 who has been on a couple of Morgos ride with ya cracked his rim and the blokes at Morriset Yami fixed it for him. Not sure of the price but the job looked prity good.

[DeanMember]

Jeffro wrote:

Quote:

The alloy rim will have been hardened after forming so any welding will create a soft spot because you will have annealed it making it the weak spot. Thats why it will crack again unless you can get it heat treated back to the correct temper which would likely cost as much as a new rim.

+1 maybe good for a spare, Id be looking at a replacement though Murph

Ollie

[MalMember]

The boy has a job now Murph. Tell HIM to buy a new one.. :laugh:

+1 for buying a new one too but try welding. It’s only on the back after all.

[murph the surfMember]

Hah!! Try and find someone who welds motorbike rims. The dude I talked to says he doesn’t do them anymore because of insurance/liability and said you’d be lucky to get anybody to do the job.
This is Australia not America :angry:
New tyre is now fitted and will monitor the growth if any of the split.
We measured the thickness of the boys rear brake disc and was surprised it was only 2.24mm thick, it should of been replaced at 3.5mm according to specs. Just another one of those things that don’t get checked often enough I guess :ohmy:
Cheers
Murph

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