Broken Frame Tab - Can they be fixed?

[bruincounselor]

I'm pulling the R1100S apart to do a preventative clutch and slave. I got the bike a few years ago and while it's got 75,000 miles the maintenance is unknown.

Unfortunately the left trans tab is broken. It's been broken for a while because there is dirt on the broken surfaces. Has anyone has success with a welder?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[wswartzwel]

It was welded from the factory...

The upper frame tabs that support the rear seat frame broke on mine a long time ago... welded them back on and have 40,000 miles on it since then.

Add a gusset. BMW made a change on later year models and made that tab a bit more robust, as the tab breaking off was not uncommon.

[bruincounselor]

Thanks for the reply. I'll be looking for a good welder next week!

[908/930]

As Bill said should be easy for a welding shop, what you should do is fully clean ALL the grease and dirt off the frame and tab then clean the fracture with acetone or lacquer thinner possibly alcohol, NOT Varsol, get any oil off from that surface and from around that area, the rest of the cleaning is so the person welding it does not ruin his pair of TIG welding gloves. Consider making a piece of steel pipe the same length as the transmission spacing to bolt in there while he is welding to make sure your spacing stays correct. He will need to grind into the weld area to remove the coating.

[JimMoore]

There are a LOT of S models riding around with broken tabs like that, most unbeknownst to their owners. If getting it welded turns out to be a PITA or $$$, I might consider just putting it back together as is.